Blog launched: November 10, 2009

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Crocus laevigatus

803_8112 [Crocus laevigatus]

A small, scented, widespread crocus with white or slightly lilac tepals.
Its purple stripes on the tepals attract your attention from a distance.
It can be found up to a height of 1500 m.

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos in November 2020

 

DSCN3040 [Crocus laevigatus]

This picture was taken on Mt. Parnonas in October, 2008

Saturday, November 14, 2020

Sternbergia lutea

803_7998 [Sternbergia lutea]

803_8001 [Sternbergia lutea]
 
This elegant beauty appears yearly from September to November.
It loves stony grounds but I found it among pine-needles at the foot of Mt. Hymittos.
 
Photographed on October 16, 2020
 
 

Saturday, November 7, 2020

Saint George and Saint Irene

Please click on the pictures for a better view. 
 
803_1101 [Saint George Papagou]

A Greek Orthodox church dedicated to Saint George and Saint Irene, found at the residential area of Papagos very close to the foot of Mt. Hymittos. It was opened to the public in 2011 but it was inaugurated in 2018. I found it architecturally attractive and photographically inviting, although it is very similar to many Greek Orthodox churches I had seen before.
 

803_1625 [Saint George Papagou]
 
The interior, however, is quite dissimilar to other churches. 
 
[If you want to see an example of a dissimilar church, please click HERE.]
 
What surprised me, however, were the stained-glass windows it is decorated with, which as far as I know, are not a common feature of Greek Orthodox churches.
 
Here follow four such windows:
803_1612 - 803_1611 [Kosmas + Damianos]
 

803_1614 + 803_1615 [Nektarios + Nikolaos]

 
All photographed on March 28, 2018
 
 

Saturday, October 31, 2020

Crocus cancellatus subsp. mazziaricus

802_1929 [Crocus cancellatus subsp. mazziaricus]
 
A widespread crocus that blooms from September to November.
It can be found in a variety of habitats up to a height of 1500 m.
 
 

Saturday, October 24, 2020

Spiranthes spiralis

304_0496 [Spiranthes spiralis]
 
 
803_7891 [Spiranthes spiralis]
 
 
803_7991 [Spiranthes spiralis]

Spiranthes spiralis: A small wild orchid with an unusual shape.
Its small whitish flowers (up to 5 mm wide) appear spirally around the upper part of its 10-15 cm stalk, providing a good reason for it to be called ‘spiralis’. It can be found in various European countries, North Africa and all the way to Iran.
It blooms in October and November. 
 
Photographed at the foot of Mt. Hymittos on October 16, 2020
 
 

Saturday, October 17, 2020

Colchicum sfikasianum

803_7853 [Colchicum sfikasianum]

Colchicum sfikasianum is one of the 31 species of Colchicum that grow in Greece, 12 of which are endemics.
When it flowers in Autumn it comes straight out of the ground with no leaves, which appear in Spring. 
It is local to Mt. Hymittos, SE Peloponnese and to the island of Kefalonia.
 
The picture above was taken on Mt. Hymittos on October 1, 2020
 
 

Saturday, October 10, 2020

Paeonia daurica subsp. mlokosewitschii

802_5874 [Paeonia daurica subsp. mlokosewitschii]
 
Native to Caucasus mountains.
 
Photographed in the Diomedes Botanical Gardens in Athens a couple, or so, of years ago.
 
 

Saturday, October 3, 2020

Cyclamen graecum

802_1953 [Cyclamen graecum]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 1, 2020