Now that you are past posting them, it is my time to post mine. They had long been in my files, but I always think of them even if they are alien to our climate. The story and the habitat behind these photos are so special. They are found growing naturally at the top slopes of the rocky mountains of Antalya, Turkey, almost near the snow caps. When the ice melts these flowers start to bloom and the people in the area hold "The Snowdrop Festival" with festivities, dances, and food. Lots of tourists also come. Being in that city that time, we were lucky to be invited to join a group attending the festival. And i didn't think twice in joining. A three-hour trip to the top is an experience of a lifetime.
Rocky mountains of Ibradi, Antalya,Turkey
I found the above flower in a container in front of a hotel, which magnify its importance. But i haven't been able to know its name. A later comment supplied its name as Lotus bertolii, thank you very much to Veronica of Tassels and Twigs
Lastly, this is my favorite flower, Wisteria sp. I found it for the first time in Sweden trained in a habit much different than this one! I was told that we already have this in our country, but was observed to be invasive, which stopped me from planting it.
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The orange and grey plant is Lotus Bertolii and quite showy. I have unfortunately lost mine but will replant one as I love it!
ReplyDeleteVeronica
www.tasselsandtwigs.blogspot.com
Yes, these are spring flowers that also fascinated me the first time I saw them. When I was still in Baguio City, I was just contented to view and collect these flowers through pictures, but now that I'm "living" with them, I can enjoy their company in an up-close and personal basis.
ReplyDeleteGood that you have had your chance to see them and take pictures of them. Thanks for sharing your photos, and for commenting on my post.
That's what I love about the spring season, so many explosion of colors on the mountainside (and even deserts) when the seasonal flowers emerge and bloom and carpet the ground. Plus spring means the cold winter is over :)
ReplyDeleteI also like Wisteria especially when its in full bloom. I wondered whether it will grow in our tropical climate. Then my Mom said we have wisteria in the farm. I forgot to ask where it was when I last visited. I thought its just another plant called 'wisteria'. I hope its the same as the one growing in the temperate regions and hopefully its not agressively invasive.
How interesting that they look like weeds when growing in their natural environment! :))
ReplyDeleteIncredible shots. I'd love to see these guys growing in their natural habitat.
ReplyDeleteGreat group of plants/flowers, Andrea... I know that when we went to the Rocky Mountains, we saw some fabulous wildflowers at the high elevations --which we don't see here.
ReplyDeleteLoved seeing your 'foreign' flower pictures today.
Hugs,
Betsy
Andrea, you blog postings are getting better and better in quality in terms of pictures and informative material. I love it when you share your expert knowledge in botany and also your travellogues.
ReplyDeleteWisteria is a very pretty plant. We have one that has a lot of foliage but has not had flowers for many years. I always think, "Maybe next year" so we let it stay! Happy Bloom Day!
ReplyDeleteVeronica - thank you so much for the Lotus bertolii ID, I learned a lot here from your first visit.
ReplyDeleteCharlene - I didn't have the inkling when i saw your post that you are also from this patch of the earth once. You really are now a Polardweller, haha! I should go back to your blog to see where in Sweden you are now. I've stayed in Lund and went up north to Stockholm and Uppsala. I miss Sweden too. Thanks for your visit here.
Solitude Rising - I don't know if i should be thankful that most of my travels abroad are timed in spring, so i haven't seen snow in its real conditions. About wisteria, a garden owner here told me we have a species suited for the tropics, but it is not as nice as that in cold climes, and is also "aggressively invasive" as you said. That is expected from an introduced species.
EG Wow - just like how people from temperate climes like to look at tropicals, we from the tropics are also enchanted and amazed with the temperate plants. What you dont know amaze you, haha, my term is enchanted!
Rohrerbot - You are more privilege to see them more often, and if you will it is easier for you!
Betsy - yes they are gorgeous and the trip was also exciting, as always.
Autumn Belle - thank you so much my friend, you are always kind with words for me. I hope i can always fill that interest.
ReplyDeleteDorothy - i learned that wisteria is a perennial plant which becomes more beautiful with training through time. The one i saw in Sweden was climbing a tall wall and is already very old, and it really is awesome!
lots of great flowers you share today.
ReplyDeleteOh, the orange one is so interesting to look at! Lovely photos, Andrea!
ReplyDeleteAndrea, Thank you for sharing your experience on this mountain. What jewels! and to see them in their natural habitat. Beautiful!
ReplyDeleteAndrea how lucky for you to see these beautiful spring bulbs (in my garden) in their natural environment. A trip of a lifetime.
ReplyDeleteVery good selection of flower pics from your files... the wisteria is really lovely...
ReplyDeleteAll beautiful flowers and so colourful. LOvely blog too.
ReplyDeletebeautiful blooms Andrea. a feast for the eyes, makes my heart smile. :)
ReplyDeleteI will lump my thanks to my other visitors because i am in a hurry at the moment and will be away till Monday. Thank you very much for visiting and commenting here:
ReplyDeleteNature Footstep
Adrienne in Ohio
Carol
Donna
Lrong
Riet
Life Ramblings
I hope you will drop by here again! Happy Weekend
I wouldn't mind some invasive Wisteria... where can I find it? LOL! But you are right, each climate has its own beauties - in flowers, in people, in architecture, in food and on - and of course that is what I love about traveling... to see how things are different, but also to understand how things are the same. [Thanks for your encouraging notes on my blog, Andrea! Always appreciated.]
ReplyDeleteWelcome back to the city. I take it that you are back because you are replying to emails again. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHow wonderful to have seen these in your travels. A new culture and new plants can't be beat. When your seeds arrive we can both experiment on growing columbine in the tropics.
A gorgeous selection of blooms - I love that lotus bertolii too! Wonder how long it blooms for?
ReplyDeleteSimply heavenly flowers.
ReplyDeleteJoyce M
Beautiful collages with gorgeous images. I've never carried a camera during my travels so no photos to share except those taken by others of me.
ReplyDeleteLotus is stunning! I like the vibrant red as it takes my breath away, In a good way of course. Wisteria is invasive and seen all over the south. I do not have any in my gardens but enjoy it in the spring. I only wish the blooms would last longer then they do...
ReplyDeleteAndrea, we share your love of the spring bulbs as well as the wisteria.
ReplyDeleteYes, it can be invasive if left to its own devices in the right growing conditions, but that is true for most things. We have three different vines, and if you train it on a trellis and keep it pruned, there is no reason you can't enjoy it!
Lovely post...I bet it is amazing to see them flowering on the mountains!
ReplyDeleteFrancisca - a store in Quezon City Garden show last year sold wisteria seedlings, their main store is in Los Banos, Laguna. It is reported as invasive in subtropical climes, so it might be excessively invasive in the tropics. I will not take risk planting it because i am always an absentee gardener. I fully agree with what you said, that's why i envy so much your travels. Just remember i reserve a copy of that future coffee-table book. This is not a joke.
ReplyDeleteHi Andre,
ReplyDeleteYou have a very nice flower collection. Where in the Philippines are these flowers located? Are you selling these flowers?
can I order online to be sent to other part of the world?
Cassy from Acoustic Guitar Lessons
Bom - these are 2 yr-old photos, when i still dont have a DSLR. I definiteley would love to go back to Turkey, especially to Cappadocia. I always reply to emails, so if i dont maybe i did not see it.
ReplyDeleteWendy - i just dont know how long does the Lotus bertolii flowers last. It has always been like that for the 1 week i was there. I will try to search in the net for the answer.
Skeeter - I will not take risk on Wisteria here, although it really is very beautiful. this one is trained to be like a tree, the one i saw in Sweden was climbing vine on a wall. By the way, your marigold seeds sent last year had its 2nd generation now, so we have more plant flowering now. Thanks for both the visit and the marigolds.
One - i am sure this time you will not anymore leave your camera behind, as you already know you are getting beautiful photos, and you have us to share them with.
ReplyDeleteCathy and Steve -maybe this time i will just be content in appreciating others' wisteria photos, as i am not yet able to stay at home to guard my plants. I will just be contented on those which thrive on neglect like my bulbs and annuals. This tree in Turkey is trained as a tree, the one i saw in Sweden is a vine climbing on a tall wall of a building. they are both awesome.
Thanks also for your kind words and visit:
Aaron
Light and Voices
Scottweberpdx
Cassy - the answers to your questions are in the body of this post. thank you for coming over.
ReplyDeleteSo beautiful! I wish these would grow in our tropical climates.
ReplyDeleteI think I would take a chance on that wisteria. I don't mind something that beautiful invading my space.
It is always a pleasure to travel and look back on the experience, never mind if the actual travelling was two years ago or last week.
ReplyDeleteThe pictures of the flowers are great. Don't worry. I don't have a DSLR until now and even if I did, I don't demand that all bloggers shots be taken with a DSLR. :D
I echo Autumn Belle's comment. I too noticed more content in both words and images. And your sharing of knowledge is always something I look forward too. I did not realize you had traveled so much.
ReplyDeleteSunita - if only i am staying at home or go home everyday after office, i would also gamble on wisteria. However, i don't go home even weekly, so it is difficult to ask someone to take care of it well. Go Sunita Go, and please tell me what happens.
ReplyDeleteBom - what i mean by mentioning DSLR is that previous photos are not taken with better technology, so probably more mediocre than my recent photos! I don't insinuate anything than that.
Donna - thank you so much for those kind words. Phrases like that coming from you means a lot to inspire my waning enthusiasm in blogging, haha! I am happier with bloggers because we always want to learn for more, stagnating minds are not us! But your feeling that i travelled much is not really true, just travelled moderately in the past, but now just content locally. LOL.
Not mediocre at all. Your pictures are still great. It is the talent of the photographer and not the specs of the camera that counts. Naks! ;-)
ReplyDelete