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.

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

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.

 

 

Cyclamen graecum

802_1953 [Cyclamen graecum]

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos on October 1, 2020

 

 

Dubai: memories from the past

_MG_6048 [Dubai: memories from the past]

 

The boat in the picture is a boat-restaurant.

Tourists on board enjoy a night view of Dubai or they take advantage of an opportunity to try a selection of local and international specialties for their evening meals while the boat is on a cruise along Dubai creek.

 

The picture was taken from our boat-restaurant that happened to be moving the opposite direction at that moment.

 

Dubai memories from November 21, 2007

 

Please click on the picture for a better view.

Colchicum bivonae

803_7818 [Colchicum bivonae]

 

This colchicum blooms as soon as we have the first cold in Autumn. So, the fact that the flower above was the only one bivonae I found on my recent visit to Parnitha most probably indicates that cold weather is on the way! [Some sort of primitive Meteorological Service!!!]

 

Beautiful but the whole plant contains colchicine, a poison that Medea used to kill her children in Kolchida! 

 

Photographed on Mt. Parnitha on September 12, 202

 

 

Patroklos and the Milky Way

803_2235 [Patroklos]

 

I had just taken a series of photos of a lunar eclipse over the Temple of Apollo on Cape Sounio [You can see the eclipse here.] and was about to return home when the boats near the little island of Patroklos and their reflections on the water looked tempting to my sleepy eyes at 1:30 in the morning. I confess, I am not strong enough to resist photographic temptations, so I decided to take 1-2 more photos - the last ones - for the night. The stars above were not visible to the human eye but PhotoPills - my mobile photo-advising App - ensured me that part of the Milky Way was still over the little island of Patroklos at that time.

So, I turned my camera towards a new direction and once again yielded to the temptation.

The outcome on the computer screen on the following day reminded me of David’s Psalm that reads:

“The heavens declare the glory of God; The skies proclaim the work of his hands.”

 

Photographed at Sounio on July 27, 2018 

 

Please click on the picture for a better view