Season wishes

Photo source: http://wallpapers.ae/classic-xmas-night-sky-wide-wallpaper.html
Adapted by the blogger

Please click on the picture for a better view.

Biarum tenuifolium subsp. abbreviatum

Biarum x8

Biarum x5

These pictures of Biarum tenuifolium_ssp_abbreviatum were taken over a series of recent years (including 2018) on the Hill of Philopappou in Athens.

They show the flower on various stages of development (more or less)
 
Please click on the pictures for a better view.

 

Colchicum cupanii

IMG_6254 [Colchicum cupanii]

A Colchicum cupanii near the top of Mt. Hymittos overlooking the city of Athens in the distance.

Photographed on October 31, 2018

Cetonia aurata

803_3450 [Cetonia aurata]

803_3469 [Cetonia aurata]

An impressively colored beetle with a striking metallic sheen! Often bronze, copper, violet, blue, or grey on top and bronze beneath. Due to the texture of its body its color changes depending on the angle the light strikes its body. At a specific angle it can appear to be colorless. It’s like looking at it through a polarizing filter!!! Amazing nature!
 
It’s about 20 mm long. It can fly fast. Active on sunny days. Feeds on flowers.
 
Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on October 11, 2018

Crocus pallasii

IMG_6295 [Crocus pallasii]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 31, 2018

Galanthus reginae-olgae

803_3561 [Galanthus reginae-olgae]

This is one of the four Galanthus reginae-olgae known to exist [as far as I know] on Mt. Hymittos.

Photographed on October 31, 2018

Symphoricarpos albus

IMG_5893 [Symphoricarpos albus]

Native to North America and much of Canada but also naturalized in many other countries. I have never seen it before in Greece. 

By the way, its name derives from Greek συν + φέρω + καρπούς meaning “bearing fruits together”. The picture above seems to justify this name.
 
Photographed on a hedge in a residential area on Mt. Vardusia on September 8, 2018

Ipomoea [purpurea?]

 IMG_5891 [Ipomoea purpurea]

Ipomoea is the largest genus in the plant family Convolvulaceae with about 500 species. The flower above most probably belongs to the species of purpurea but I leave the exact identification to the experts.
 
With identification put aside, I believe no matter how you call the flower, its beauty remains unquestionable [imho].
 
It is said to have originated from Mexico and Central America but apparently has spread almost all over the world.
 
Photographed in a residential area on Mt. Vardousia on September 8, 2018