Plane on roof!

DSCN1933 [Plane on roof]

 No, no, don’t be confused. This is not a plane landing on JFK airport in New York.☺

It’s only a snapshot of an unusual subject that I took in a village in Northern Greece quite some years ago.

 

Ophrys fusca subsp. leucadica

804_0557 [Ophrys leucadica]

804_0545 [Ophrys leucadica]

 

801_8677 [Ophrys leucadica]

 

A common Ophrys that appears in large populations in southern mainland of Greece and Ionian and Aegean islands.

It normally flowers in March and April but for some reason every year it appears as early as January on a specific spot on Mt. Hymittos where the above pictures were taken on January 14 this year. [2023] 

 

 

Crocus nivalis

IMG_1764 [Crocus nivalis]

 

IMG_1771 [Crocus nivalis]

 

IMG_1770 [Crocus nivalis]

 

My first flower shots in 2023. Looking forward to more - hopefully soon!

Keep an open eye and don’t miss them!

 

All photographed with a mobile in Anthusa (Attica) on January 3.

 

 

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

foemina

IMG_1332 [Ephoedra foemina]

 

Ephedra foemina 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 foemina]

 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