Kannan Devan Hills Tea garden

Kannan Devan Hills Tea garden

Some tea plantations are like artwork, with countless shapes, patterns and variations of green, creating a living gallery of abstracts to the beholder.…


Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna)

Vicuña (Vicugna vicugna)

My first sight of this group was a couple lying in the dirt road! Completely chilled and did not bother to get up before the car was quite close. Even then…


Junellia pappigera

Junellia pappigera

Junellia pappigera is a decorative plant in or out of bloom. I guess many rock-garden enthusiasts would like it in their garden! Altitude: 4232 metres. Native…


Junellia pappigera

Junellia pappigera

In certain areas junellia pappigera is very common and you'll see both color variants. Altitude: 4232 metres. Native range is Bolivia, Chile and Agentina.…


Crested Duck (Lophonetta specularioides)

Crested Duck (Lophonetta specularioides)

Here at the Laguna Cañapa the ducks were not at all disturbed by humans, and I could get quite close to this crested duck (Lophonetta specularioides) busy…


Golden-spotted Ground Dove (Metriopelia aymara)

Golden-spotted Ground Dove (Metriopelia aymara)

Due to the midday sun, the light is very hard, and the golden spots on the wing barely visible. The morning or evening sun would have revealed some brilliantly…


Lobelia oligophylla

Lobelia oligophylla

Lobelia oligophylla grows alongside the springs, streams, rivers and some lagoons. Altitude: 4131 metres. Native range is Ecuador to southernmost South…


Calandrinia acaulis

Calandrinia acaulis

Calandrinia acaulis grows alongside the springs, streams, rivers and some lagoons. Altitude: 4131 metres. Native range is Venezuela to Argentina. Mexico…


Patosia clandestina

Patosia clandestina

Patosia clandestina is a common plant that makes huge, dense mats around the springs, streams, rivers and some areas of the lagoons. Everything about this…


Laguna Cañapa

Laguna Cañapa

Only a tiny speck of snow is left on the mountain, but in the winter even Laguna Cañapa is sometimes covered with snow and ice.…