Pavonia hastata

IMG_4264 R [Pavonia hastata]

A shrub that reaches a height of 1.5m.

It is native to some countries of South America

and reportedly there are about 300 variants.

 

I had my first ever encounter with this plant a week ago

in Diomidous Botanical Garden in Athens

where I had the chance to take this photograph.

 

 

Psittacula krameri

300_7157 [Psittacula krameri]

 

A lovable bird that often visits our garden

 

For older posts with additional pictures and some info please click HERE.

 

 

Dactylorhiza succifera

303_8631 [Dactylorhiza succifera]

 

303_8666 [Dactylorhiza saccifera]

 

Α closeup on its dense inflorescence that can reach as many as 150 flowers.

 

 

 

303_8671 [Dactylorhiza saccifera]

 

 

Dactylorhiza succifera is a very common orchid

that thrives in the central and eastern Mediterranean.

A tall and robust plant that reaches 90 cm.

It grows and blooms from June to August near streams with water

or in very wet soils at altitudes of up to 2200 m.

 

In Greece, it grows all over the mainland.

 

Photographed on Mt. Dirfis

 

 

Nasua nasua

_MG_3036 [Nasua nasua]

 

_MG_3038 [Nasua nasua]

 

Nasua nasua are medium-sized mammals

commonly known as South American coatis.

They are pretty similar to raccoons as they belong in the same family.

They live in groups of up to 40 and keep together

even when they look for food on trees or on the ground.

They eat fruit, vegetables, insects, eggs, etc.

 

I have never seen them live, except in the Attica Zoological Park

where they were incessantly playing on the branches of a tree.

 

 

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre

303_4497 [Sacred Heart]

 

Are you already in Paris for the Olympic Games?

If you are, I’m sure your schedule will accommodate a visit

to this exceptionally interesting Basilica. [Google maps: 48.88689, 2.34316]

 

This Roman Catholic Basilica, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus,

is an architectural marvel and a church of national historical interest.

It is built at the top of a hill, two hundred meters higher than the Seign;

At a point from where visitors (more than 11 million per year)

enjoy a unique, panoramic view of Paris and the suburbs below.

 

Do not forget to climb to the dome. The view is superb!

 

Please click on the picture for a better view. 

Salvia argentea

302_0083 [Salvia argentea]

 

302_0084 [Salvia argentea]

302_0087 [Salvia argentea]

Salvia argentea is a biennial or perennial, herbaceous plant

native to arid hilly and mountainous locations

in southern Europe in altitudes from 500 to 2000 m.

 

Its attractive white flowers appear during almost all spring and summer;

a reason why it is often cultivated in gardens.

 

The pictures were taken on Mt. Parnassos.

 

 

Leontodon tuberosus

IMG_1790 [Leontodon tuberosus]

 

A flower head of Leontodon tuberosus

shot at an early stage of its development.

 

 

303_5104  [Leontodon tuberosus]

 

Two flower heads in full development.

 

Leontodon tuberosus is a perennial plant, common in all Mediterranean countries.

It is found from February to May

in shrubby hills, fallow fields, roadsides, and uncultivated fields

in altitudes 0-1200 m.

It can become 15-30cm tall and grows from tuberous roots

that are reportedly eaten in some areas.

 

Its flower heads stand on characteristically erect, unbranched stems

each of which holds a single flower head.

 

Photographed at the foot of Mt. Hymittos

A dragonfly

302_8427 [A dragonfly[

 

A dragonfly charging her batteries!

 

Her genus and species are not recognizable from the picture

due to the angle of shooting. Sorry.

 

By the way, did you know...

• that more than 3,000 different species live on every continent of the world except Antarctica?
• that dragonflies are the fastest flying insects, reaching a speed of 50–60 kph? 
• that they can fly forward, backwards, sideways, they can hover or change direction very quickly? 
• that their strikingly big eye actually consists of up to 5000 tiny cooperating eyes that allow her to see in front, below, and behind, all at the same time? 
• that they have been around for 300 million years? 
• that they eat other bugs, such as mosquitoes, midges, and spiders and they do not harm people? 

 

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos

 

Disclaimer.

If you’ve thought for a moment that I might be an expert on dragonflies,

please think again. I’m not!

I only came across this information while I was browsing the booklet:

 “Ask a bug” published by DK.