Ophrys mycenensis

801_9164 [Ophrys mycenensis]

Ophrys mycenensis is a beautiful wild orchid

endemic to Eastern Central Greece and to the Peloponnese

where it blooms with satisfactory populations from mid-February to early May.

 

Natural habitat: sparse bushy vegetation, low hills, pine forest gaps, brushwood. 

 

The picture was taken in Dilesi.

 

 

Paeonia mascula subsp. hellenica

301_9106 [{aeonia mascula hellenica]

 

One of the four species (peregrina, mascula, clusii and parnasica) growing in Greece.

Mascula grows in woodland clearings and rocky areas on heights of 400-1300m

on Mt. Parnitha, Mt. Taygetos and the islands of Andros and Evoia.

 

Its flowers are predominantly white and occasionally red.

 

The picture above was taken in Evoia.

 

For a flower in red and more hellenica pictures, please see an older post HERE.

 

 

Consolida hispanica

 

IMG_5596 [Consolida hispanica]

 

Consolida hispanica, with its characteristic dark violet flowers, 

is an annual, herbaceous plant found in the Mediterranean

and in many other areas of the world.

 

In Greece, it grows in any part of the country on heights of up to 800m.

It can become up to 1m tall.

It is also cultivated as an ornamental.

 

The picture was taken in Dilesi.

 

 

The Tower of the Winds

 

The Tower of the Winds in Athens:

A fairly detailed and informative presentation in the form of a slide show.

Duration: 11΄. English subtitles.

 

Watching in FULL SCREEN and HD in YouTube is highly recommended. 

 

 

 

Για Ελληνικούς υπότιτλους, παρακαλώ κάντε click στην Ελληνική σημαία.

Θα μεταφερθείτε στο YouTube. 

Σας προτείνουμε να επιλέξετε (αν χρειαστεί) το FULL SCREEN και HD.

 

 

Ευχαριστώ.

 

Himantoglossum robertianum

802_3136 [Himantoglossum robertianum]

 

A closeup shot of the well-known Himantoglossum robertianum.

 

Emphasis on details.

 

It was photographed in Lavrio.

 

 

Ipomoea purpurea

IMG_5891 [Ipomoea purpurea]

 

Ipomoea purpurea is native to Mexico and Central America

but it has been naturalized in a plethora of tropical and subtropical climates

where it is cultivated for its attractive funnel-shaped flowers.

They usually come in blue, purple, pink or white.

 

The plant entwines itself around whatever it finds available and grows to a height of 2–3m.

 

I don’t usually shoot cultivated, ornamental flowers

but I found this one irresistible,

so I pressed the trigger.

 

Photographed in a residential area on Mt. Vardousia

at a height of 1000m.

 

 

Fritillaria graeca

804_1291 [Fritillaria graeca]

 

Fritillaria graeca is a small perennial plant native to the Balkan Peninsula,

specifically in Albania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, and Greece.

 

It typically grows in rocky or grassy habitats at elevations between 350 and 2200 meters

and can reach a height of up to 25 centimeters.

 

It blooms in spring and produces attractive bell-shaped flowers;

a fact that sometimes leads to its cultivation in gardens for its ornamental qualities.

 

Not very common but not endangered either.

 

Photographed on Mt. Hymittos, March 2024

 

 

Lacerta trilineata

303_3414 [Lacerta trilineata]
 

Lacerta trilineata is the biggest species of Lacerta found.

The Balkan green lizard, as it is also called, typically ranges from 20 to 30cm in length,

including its tail which is often twice the length of the body.

In rare cases it may exceed 30cm.

 

It is found in the Southern Balkans (including Greece) and in some Greek Islands

in areas from sea level to high up the mountains

(Even higher than 1500 meters as is the case with Crete).

 

Coming across a lizard is always an impressive encounter.

It is very agile but it often stops, turns into a voluntary photographic model

and establishes eye-to-eye contact with you or with your photographic lens.

An unforgettable experience and often photographically rewarding!

 

Some consider it poisonous but it is totally harmless.

 

It was photographed on Mt. Parnitha.