Merry Christmas!

_MG_5367 [Wishes]

 

"M e r r y  C h r i s t m a s !

and

A Happy New Year!"

from Tagton the blogger

Ephedra phoeminea

IMG_1332 [Ephoedra phoeminea]

 

Ephedra foeminea is a perennial shrub found on rocky slopes at heights of up to 1000 meters.

It usually climbs on other plants

but its green - or reddish - thin and flexible shoots seem to be hanging

from the top of a plant towards the ground.

 

Its red fruits provide an impressive sight.

 

Photographed on Mt Hymittos on October 27, 2022

 

 

804_0527 [Ephedra phoeminea]

 A closeup photo of Ephedra’s fruit. It’s 6-8mm wide.

 

 

Pyracantha coccinea

IMG_0962 [Pyracantha coccinea]

This evergreen thorny shrub grows in countries of southern Europe and western Asia

not only in the wild but also in gardens and hedges in urban areas.

 

Beware of the thorns!

 

 

804_0514 [Pyracantha coccinea]

 

Pyracantha’s (fruit-) berries are bitter and astringent.

They may look like big tomatoes in this closeup picture

but they are actually only 6-7 mm wide.

Ficus carica

IMG_1304 [Ficus carica]

 

Ficus carica: Our well-known fig tree.

 

I found it standing at the side of a road on Mt. Hymittos. It was “dressed” in its autumn colors 

and was creating a striking contrast with the all-green environment around.

 

It had no figs to offer. Only a strong “color coded message” that we were heading to the center of Winter. 

 

 

IMG_1307 [Ficus carica]

One of its lowest branches.

IMG_1309 [Ficus carica]

Four leaves at the foot of the tree seemed to refuse to accept

that Winter was unavoidably coming.

 

Photographed on October 27, 2022

Pica Pica

IMG_1242 [Pica pica]

 

A striking, black and white, easy recognizable bird that flies all over Europe.

 Although it is a sociable bird, this was the first time a Pica let me approach it that close and take the shot.

 

Photographed on Philopappou Hill, opposite the Acropolis, in Athens on October 12, 2022 

 

 

Crocus cartwrightianus

IMG_6363 [Crocus cartwrightianus]

Crocus cartwrightianus from Mt. Hymittos.

 

It was photographed on October 31, 2022

 

Crocus pallasii

IMG_1330 [Crocus pallasii]

 

Crocus pallasii flowers from October to November usually on stony areas and in thin shrub

in countries from the Balcan to Iran.

In Greece, until a few years ago, it was believed to grow only on the East Aegean Islands

but now it is known to have been recorded on the Greek mainland as well.

Color-wise, it comes in all shades of lilac.

 

It was photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 27, 2022.

 

 

Biarum tenuifolium ssp. abbreviatum

803_0327 [Biarum tenuifolium ssp. abbreviatum]

 

803_0329 [Biarum tenuifolium ssp. abbreviatum]

 

This perennial flower is widespread in stony grounds of Mediteranean regions.

It appears, without leaves, from July to November.

 

Photographed on Philopappou Hill, opposite the Acropolis, on October 12, 2022

 

 

302_9538 [Biarum tenuifolium ssp. abbreviatum]

 The leaves appear before or after the flower (= spathe and spadix).

 

This picture was taken on Mt. Hymittos on October 15, 2010

 

 

Colchicum cupanii

302_2394 [Colchicum cupanii]

 

Colchicum cupanii is a bulbous plant widespread in Mediterranean countries. Its bulbs are poisonous.

It gets up to 10 cm in height while its flowers are about 3 cm wide. 

 

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 08, 2022

 

Sternbergia lutea

IMG_1251 [Sternbergia lutea]

A low to short, 40-50mm long flower that looks like a crocus.

 

It grows from August to October on rocky and grassy slopes, and

generally, on hills and low mountains in the Mediterranean region.

 

The picture above was taken at the foot of the Acropolis in October 2022.

 

 

IMG_1218 [Sterbergia lutea]
 

It grows solitary (see above) or in open clusters (see below).

 

 

IMG_1222 [Sternbergia lutea]

 

The last two pictures were taken on Mt. Hymittos in October 2022.

 

Lotus edulis

DSCN2952 [Lotus edulis]

 

A Mediterranean plant widely distributed in Greece.

 

It is a low plant that sprawls up to 30 cm long on the ground and reaches a height of 30-40 cm.

 

It grows in cultivated fields, roadsides and rocky habitats in altitudes usually up to 300 m.

 However, the picture above was taken at a height of about 700-800 on Mt. Parnitha.

 

It flowers in Spring but surprisingly enough it was photographed on October 18 (2008)

 

 

Anser anser

302_4663 [Anser anser]

 

This grey goose is the direct ancestor of the domestic goose.

 

It was photographed in “Tritsi’s Park” in Athens on March 21, 2010

 

 

 

304_3971 [Anser anser]

 

Photographed on lake Beletsi on Mt. Parnitha on February 26, 2014

Parental support

302_4690 [Parental support]

I was looking for flowers to photograph in Tritsis’ Park in Athens

when I saw this father to be helping her daughter

to keep her balance along the deserted railway lines. 

 

Symbolic of his parental support to the end of her life?

 

Photographed in March 2010

 

 

Colchicum sfikasianum

IMG_0998 [Colchicum sfikasianum]

 

 

IMG_0973 [Colchicum sfikasianum]

 

IMG_0983 [Colchicum sfikasianum]

 

Colchicum sfikasianum flowers from September to November, while its leaves appear in Spring.

It is endemic to S. Peloponnese, to Mt. Hymittos and to some Ionic islands

where it grows in stony and rocky places mainly at heights of up to 500 m.

 

It is also called "Colchicum polymorphum"

as it comes in a variety of color shades as seen in the pictures above.

 

All pictures were taken on Mt. Hymittos on September 13, 2022 

 

 

Colchicum bivonae

803_0315 [Colchicum bivonae]

 

 

IMG_0945 [Colchicum bivonae]

 

IMG_0948 [Colchicum bivonae]

Colchicum bivonae is native to Italy and the Balkan Peninsula

but it can also be found in other countries of Southern Europe.

 It is very common in Greece

where it prefers mountainous regions in heights of around 500 meters.

 

From September to mid-November

it produces solitary, strong purplish-pink flowers of 10-15 cm resembling a cup,

while its leaves appear from March to June.

 

All parts of the plant - but especially the bulb - are poisonous.

 

All pictures were taken on Mt. Parnitha on September 10, 2022

 

 

Tragopogon sinuatus

304_1484 [Tragopogon sinuatus]

 

It can be found in open grassy places in heights of up to 700 m.

 

Photographed in Lavrio on April 04, 2013

 

 

Ciconia ciconia

801_7698 [Ciconia ciconia]

 

Ciconia Ciconia is one the Europe’s largest and most easily recognized birds. It is still widespread in European countries but its population is declining due to intense farming and increasingly drying wetlands where it feeds on small rodents, frogs, small fish and the like.

 

The bird in the picture was seen to be flying in the skies of the Northwestern suburbs of Athens where it was photographed back in 2014.

 

For a Ciconia family please click on older post here.

 

 

Oenanthe oenanthe

304_4726 [Oenanthe oenanthe]

This bird (about 15 cm long) lives in open places such as meadows, dunes, or pastures.

It constantly moves and swings its tail, opening it like a fan.

It nests in wall holes, piles of stones or holes in the ground,

it feeds on insects and as almost all birds spends winters in Africa.

 

In the case above it “landed” on a wooden statue on Mt. Parnitha

where it was photographed back in May, 2014 

 

 

Lonicera implexa

801_4590 [Lonicera implexa]

 

Lonicera implexa is a bush that can reach the height of two meters.

It grows in altitudes of 100-1400m in mainland Greece and on some islands.

 

The flowers it bears are fragrant.

 

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on May 02, 2014

 

 

Psittacula krameri

300_7063 [Psittacula krameri]

 

Photographed in Holargos on March 25, 2022

 

 

Ophrys schlechteriana

802_3641 [Ophrys heldreichii var. schlehterana]

 

 This is a Greek endemic subspecies with still unclear distribution. It has been found in Central Greece, the Peloponnese and the Cyclades. Relatively common with large populations. It blooms in April and May in meadows and uncultivated areas up to 1000 meters.

 

Photographed in Dilesi on April 14, 2016

Cairina moschata

303_1405 [Cairina moschata]

 

Cairina is a tropical bird but due to its ability to adapt easily to cooler climates,

it can be found in America, New Zealand, Australia, and in parts of Europe. 

 

It was photographed in Lake Beletsi on Mt. Parnitha in Attica Greece. 

 

 

What bugs? -----> Lixus pulverulentus (updated)

IMG_0411 [Lixus pulverulentus]

 

I have no idea what these bugs are called but apparently, they are in the process of perpetuating their “unknown” species. 

 

A request: If anyone out there has any idea of what they might be called, please let me know in the comments below. Thanks.

 

With the guidance and assistance (see comments below) of an unknown friend I think I managed to identify these bugs as Lixus pulverulentus. As bugs, insects, weevils, etc are not my favorite fields of knowledge, I would ask any interested friend to follow the link below for related facts and details: Thank you.

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lixus_pulverulentus 

 

Photographed in Holargos on March 25, 2022

 

 

What bugs?

IMG_0411 [What bugs?]

 

I have no idea what these bugs are called but apparently, 

they are in the process of perpetuating their “unknown” species.

 

A request:

If anyone out there has any idea of what they might be called,

please let me know in the comments below. Thanks.

 

Photographed in Holargos on March 25, 2022

 

 

Orthetrum albistylum

304_2816 [Orthetrum albistylum]

 

A common dragonfly species that flies in areas of Europe, China and Japan.

 

Photographed in Vravrona in June, 2013

Liliun chalcedonicum

301_2923 [Lilium chalcedonicum]

 

This is one of five native lilies in Greece.

It can be found on mountains from Peloponnese to Southern Albania.

The spectacular scarlet flowers of this lilium appear rather late, usually in July.

 

The picture was taken on Mt. Taygetos in Peloponnese.

 

 

Erithacus rubecula

304_4182 [Erithacus rubecula]

 

303_5921 [Erithacus rubecula]

 

The bird in the upper picture looks bigger than it is. In reality, it is slightly smaller than the well-known sparrow which we are familiar with.

It is very common and widespread throughout Europe and nests in forests, bushy areas, parks and gardens. Not very social in its own “society”, as it is always found isolated and never in groups. It builds its nest usually in the ground, in holes or on bushes.

 

Its name refers to the distinctive orange-red color on its head and breast.

 

Both pictures were taken on Mt. Hymittos.

Campanula spatulata

IMG_1033 [Campanula spatulata}

 

Photographed on Mt. Elikonas 

 

 

Ophrys delphinensis

304_2182 [Ophrys delphinensis]

 

This Ophrys is endemic to Greece and particularly

around the Korinthian Gulf and on some areas of Evia.

 

Photographed on Mt. Geraneia

 

 

Eruca vesicaria

803_9935 [Eruca vesicaria]

 

This annual or bi-annual plant is native to all Mediterranean countries, from Morocco and Portugal to Egypt and Turkey. In the field it looks to me more like a weed rather than a flower. Still, it is attractive and pleasant to look at. 

 

It is said to be edible but I have to confess that I have never tried it!

 

Photographed at the foot of Mt. Hymittos on April 06, 2022

 

 

Globularia alypum

803_9911 [Globularia alypum]

 

Globularia alypum is an evergreen Mediterranean shrub which grows in arid rocky surfaces.

Its blue flowers are aromatic and bloom from autumn to spring. It normally gets 40-50cm high.

 

This year, due to intense weather changes, I found it difficult to spot a relatively decent, full-fledged plant to photograph.

 

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on April 04, 2022 

 

 

Fritillaria graeca

803_9869 [Fritillaria graeca]

 

803_9872 [Fritillaria graeca]

 

Both photographed on Mt. Hymittos on April 04, 2022

Two Trees at the Town Hall

a 023 [dead tree]

The tree above, located in the exterior area of the Town Hall of Papagos-Holargos in Athens, had been providing its “services” to the people in the area for decades when, unfortunately, for some reason, it died. After serious consideration, the Council decided to have it removed.

Recently, a new, promising little tree was planted to replace the dead one.

 

The picture was taken in August 2004, a short time before the dead tree was removed.

 

 

803_9835 [olive tree]

 On the other hand, this olive tree - estimated to be about 300 years old - a few days ago was transplanted to the exterior area of the same Town Hall. It used to live somewhere in north Peloponnese (200 km away) but since it was hindering the extension of a new railway line in the area, it was decided to be removed and be offered as a gift to our Municipality where it could be transplanted!

 

Today, it is standing in its new home from where it reminds passers-by that technological progress and environment conservation are not mutually exclusive.

 

The picture was taken on March 27, 2022.

 

[Clicking on the picture, you can have a better view.]