Last time these flowers were seen was 12 years ago, and the next time will be in 12 years! During an entire century this species will bloom only 8 times – that is how unique and rare these flowers are. For 11 years the plant is growing and in the 12th year it is all […]
Winter lingered on for much too long this year, despite the sun rising ever higher in the sky. It seemed spring was skipped altogether as summer arrived out of nowhere and in no time everything was ablaze with colors and fragrance. This is a plum flower on one of my plum trees and it is […]
This intensely colored fruit should be easy to see on the forest floor but is quite hard to find as it is mostly hidden under the leaves of the plant. Furthermore each plant holds very few fruits, and some just one drupe as seen here. A fully formed fruit would hold many drupes and resemble […]
Since a very young kid I remember how the last of summer had such an abundant burst of flowers of this species. And with it so many bumble bees, bees, butterflies and insects of so many kinds were buzzing around these hardy plants. For some time it looked as if the flowering would not happen […]
This is one of countless ways of nature that humans have copied and companies have copyrighted as their own invention and sold as things we cannot live without. For this particular function, I think all of us has one or more objects with this in their home. It is such an ingenious way to ensure […]
This long fruit is how this species got its name. Perhaps not so obvious at this stage as it is more hairy than bloody, but as it matures the red hues will appear and the hairs become less prominent. In fact this species has the most amazing colors in its foliage as it prepares for […]
Summer is well underway now, and thus many plant species are producing fruits, and in this case a very artistic one at that. When ripe these amazing looking bills will open up to what looks like a dry flower with seeds in each section, or petal if you like. The glandular hairs seen here are […]
Zigzag Clover (Trifolium medium) Oslo, Norway At first you might think you’ve encountered a red clover (Trifolium pretense). It is after all red, and it is a clover. But take a look at those elongated leaves, and the hue and color of the flowers. They are richer and more vibrant than that of the red […]
This beautiful and relatively large leaved species was my first and only encounter and the only one still with newly opened flowers. The other plants here were already starting to fade and had lost most of the pink hues and become mostly white. This might also be a natural variance of this species, as well […]
This is perhaps the most impressive of all the rhododendron species I encountered during my travel in Bhutan. Not because it was such a huge specimen, it was in fact a young bush which made these flowers accessible to me, as mature plants have their inflorescences too high to reach. Not because it had such […]
This species came as a total surprise to me, and only because I finally encountered a rhododendron plant with white flowers accessible to me on the ground! All the others had been too high on very tall rhododendron trees. The rhododendron encounter was absolutely amazing and will be covered in an upcoming post, but when […]
There are many species of rhododendron that might pass you by when you’re faced with huge trees of them in bloom so lavishly that you cannot keep your eyes off them. I caught a glimpse of a different red hue close to the ground and the road. We stopped so I could take closer look […]
You can get a lot of information on the local weather patterns and precipitation by simply looking at the type of vegetation, and in some places you will know that the clouds are hugging the landscape for long periods of time as these long “beards” only grow to these lengths where the moisture is frequent […]
My previous encounter of this species was carrying one inflorescence with flowers just opening, but was exceedingly hard to get up and close to. I was naturally exhilarated to be able to encounter wonderful specimens here that I could touch and admire as close as I wanted. This very location was a veritable garden with […]
As with a large number of plant species in Bhutan and Himalaya as a whole, this one is a hugely popular garden plant in Europe, as it is so easy to grow. It is so common in garden centers and gardens, that when I realized what species I saw alongside the roads I was reluctant […]
Most of us in the western world, and perhaps in particular in Europe, are familiar with the Rhododendrons in gardens and parks and think of them as some of many beautiful flowers in the spring. Me included. But when you see them in the wild – where they have evolved throughout the aeons – you […]
Sometimes things happen in the blink of an eye, and is in addition completely unexpected. I had stopped at this location to capture an amazingly beautiful Rhododendron growing out of a sheer cliff – almost dangling in the air – like a Bonsai tree. Twisted trunk and full of red flowers. No matter which angle […]
Alle som har tatt borti denne planten får en luktopplevelse som nok gjør at de er litt mer forsiktig neste gang. Lukten er såpass intens at planten står tilnærmet uskadet gjennom en hel sommersesong. Men det de færreste tenker over er at dette er en geranium, en av de mest populære plantene i Norge, og […]
Det vokser rikelig med engtjæreblom her i Sandbukta, og hver forsommer gleder jeg meg over fargeskjæret de gir landskapet. Store insekter som humler summer mellom blomstene, men mindre insekter, og især de som ønsker å kravle opp stengelen, får store problemer. Små bladlus er eksempel på de som setter seg bom fast i det sorte […]
I blomst er dette en vakker og dekorativ art, men straks tiden er kommet for frøspredning, er dette en av mange arter som spesielt hundeeiere blir motvillig godt kjent med. Frøene er nemlig originalen til borrelåsen som vi mennesker er så glade i. De hekter seg på alle fiberløkker, og blir med helt hjem – […]
De fleste anser løkurten som en pest og plage, men de som har så store bestander har vel heller et problem med hvordan jord bruken av den forvaltes. Her i Sandbukta har de virkelig spredt seg langs gjerdet til nummer 1 i år, men det er fordi lindehekken er klippet og jorden i tillegg har […]
Når skogforglemmegeien blomstrer langs hagen til naboen, har våren endelig fått fart og forsommerens rikdom begynt å vise seg overalt. Våren har vært kjølig så langt i år, og dermed har alle blomster stått lenge – til glede for meg og pollineringsprosessen, da lengre blomstring betyr større mulighet for pollinering. Denne forglemmegeiengen er en av […]
Som med hvitveisen, åpner vårkålen blomstene kun når det er sol. På gråværsdager og om natten er kronbladene lukket tett om blomstens edlere deler. På soldager er naboens vårkåleng et fantastisk skue. Skinnende blanke kronblader som reflekterer sollyset som minisoler. Når de står så tett som hos naboen er det et vakkert skue, jeg ser […]
Etter en lang og mørk vinter er jeg virkelig sulten på liv, og søker kjente og kjære lokasjoner i området for å se hvordan det står til med planter og i dette tilfellet få flere magedrag av en fantastisk duft! Til tross for at denne lille gruppen står ved Ingierstrandveien og passeres av mange mennesker, […]
Hver vår er gleden stor over de først plantene som kommer blomster og fargelegger landskapet. Men hvitveisen er jo hvit og minner ikke det om vinteren? For meg er den virkelig ikke et minne om vinteren, men en overdådig vitalitet som noen steder kan fargelegge en vissen bakke hvit med utallige små gule soler. På […]
Det meste går mennesket hus forbi – enten fordi det er så lite, elelr fordi det har en livsrytme så forskjellig fra oss. Hver våre klages det høylydt i media om pollen, og alle kan da se hannblomstene, eller raklene som dingler i vinden. Men hvem legger merke til mottakeren av pollenskyene? Det er for […]
At jeg tar bilder av naturen gjør at jeg også har en god historikk på når og hvor over mange år, og i år ser jeg at selv om våren virket kald og som om den aldri kom igang, så blomstret blåveisen likevel på ganske så samme tid. Dett er min “modell” i hagen som […]
No special patterns appear in UV for this flower! Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/60 s
I only found this species in one specific location on Skant (or Skand) – the highest point on all of Socotra – and was grateful it was in bloom. Aperture: ƒ/22 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1250 Shutter speed: 1/500 s
On the highest peaks of Socotra you’ll find magnificent deciduous trees like this one. Some were finished shedding leaves whilst others were in yellows or reds like the temperate autumns. I think this is an Euphorbiaceae, but need input. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/11 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1250 Shutter speed: 1/320 s
Very dull in UV compared to the many color variations in visible light. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/60 s
Close to the top of Socotra, Skant (or Skand) I found some healthy plants of this species under some trees, which was a relief as all the previous I saw on the way up here were either drooping from lack of water or were browsed by goats. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/9 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: […]
Close to the top of Socotra, Skant (or Skand) I found some healthy plants of this species under some trees, which was a relief as all the previous I saw on the way up here were either drooping from lack of water or were browsed by goats. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/11 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: […]
This plant is so small that it’s very easy to miss! On the field below the weather station of Skant I found many of them growing under trees. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/18 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/250 s
The yellow center of the flower is dark in UV, and the white petals are also quite dark. In UV this small flower appears prominent against the greyness of the background seen here. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/60 s
This plant has such tiny flowers so they are very easy to miss! On the field below the weather station of Skant I found many of them growing under trees. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/18 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/250 s
On the highest peaks of Socotra you’ll find magnificent deciduous trees like this one. Some were finished shedding leaves whilst others were in yellows or reds like the temperate autumns. I was definitely entering their very last moments before the season of rest, so this is perhaps more a developing fruit than that of a […]
The smaller plants on top of Socotra were still in good condition, and thus I found flowers in excellent condition compared to the drooping or even dried ones further down the slopes. Had I come a week or so later, even the plants up here would have been drooping, so I was very grateful! Even […]
The smaller plants on top of Socotra were still in good condition, and thus I found flowers in excellent condition compared to the drooping or even dried ones further down the slopes. Had I come a week or so later, even the plants up here would have been drooping, so I was very grateful! Even […]
Not particularly colorful in visible light and even less so in UV – all dark as it is. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/60 s
I found many of this species on top of Socotra – Skant (or Skand), but few with good flowers as it was nearing the end of the season. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/14 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/320 s
I found many of this species on top of Socotra – Skant (or Skand), but few with good flowers as it was nearing the end of the season. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/22 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1000 Shutter speed: 1/640 s
Dark center opposed to the all-yellow appearance in visible light – a typical Asteraceae! Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/80 s
The wooly leaves makes this plant easy to identify year round. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/18 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/250 s
As I was getting closer to the highest of the Haghier (or Haggeher) mountains – Skant (or Skand) – I noticed this plant with wooly leaves, but none with flowers, or at least none with fresh flowers. On the very top, on Skant, I did find some that still not past blooming. Again I was […]
A most peculiar plant! I only found this plant with fresh flowers, but unfortunately not with open flowers yet. I found it in very steep terrain close to the top of Skant (Skand). Here the goats seemed to have been unable to destroy the vegetation, so it was exceptionally dense and varied. Aperture: ƒ/16 Camera: […]
A most peculiar inflorescence, but with with very attractive color! I found only two plants with this stage of flowering and fresh leaves seen here – all other were passed bloom. Again the top of Socotra – Skant (or Skand) was the very last range for the season, as on lower altitudes the dry season […]
A most peculiar inflorescence, but with with very attractive color! I found only two plants with this stage of flowering – all other were passed bloom. Again the top of Socotra – Skant (or Skand) was the very last range for the season, as on lower altitudes the dry season was way underway. Please help […]
A most peculiar plant! I only found this plant with fresh flowers, but unfortunately not with open flowers yet. I found it in very steep terrain close to the top of Skant (Skand). Here the goats seemed to have been unable to destroy the vegetation, so it was exceptionally dense and varied. Aperture: ƒ/20 Camera: […]
A most peculiar plant! I only found this plant with fresh flowers, but unfortunately not with open flowers yet. I found it in very steep terrain close to the top of Skant (Skand). Here the goats seemed to have been unable to destroy the vegetation, so it was exceptionally dense and varied. Aperture: ƒ/20 Camera: […]
Contrary to available literature, this is not necessary a cushion plant, unless goats get to them. I found this specimen of epic proportions on a sheer cliff – unacessible to the goats. It was like a tree – perhaps many hundreds of years old. This is a typical example of how goats have transformed many […]
Never in my entire life have I seen hypericum grow as dense and tall shrubs as on top of Socotra (Skant)! I was mesmerized by the abundance of plants and flowers, and also relieved that goats leave at least this species alone. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/16 […]
Never in my entire life have I seen hypericum grow as dense and tall shrubs as on top of Socotra (Skant)! I was mesmerized by the abundance of plants and flowers, and also relieved that goats leave at least this species alone. Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/16 […]
Hypericums are beautiful in UV light, as they are not uniformly colored, and this species is no exception. This species forms impenetrable thickets dotted with flowers, that seem pruned by an expert, but neither goat nor human have anything to to with this amazing growth! Please help me identify it – leave a comment 🙂 […]
Yet another Convolvulaceae with identical color in UV light! I have yet to encounter one, no matter ho many different colors in visible light, that is not the same in UV! Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/80 s
Resembles Convolvulus sarmentosus, but its petals are rounded outwards opposed to this one which are flattened and pointing inwards at the mid-nerve of the petals. Also grows on lower elevations than this (1500 meters elevation), but few are intact as they are eaten by goats and cows. A very small plant, but that I think […]
Resembles Convolvulus sarmentosus, but its petals are rounded outwards opposed to this one which are flattened and pointing inwards at the mid-nerve of the petals. Aperture: ƒ/13 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 640 Shutter speed: 1/800 s
The tiny flowers are dark in UV light compared to the mellow cream in visible light. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/60 s
I wish I had a week on top of Socotra as there are so incredibly many magnificent plants species and many grow only on socotra! This was the only specimen I could find on Skant (Skand), but with more days I’m certain I would have found magnificent speciemens if I could have climbed where goats […]
I wish I had a week on top of Socotra as there are so incredibly many magnificent plants species and many grow only on socotra! This was the only specimen I could find on Skant (Skand), but with more days I’m certain I would have found magnificent speciemens if I could have climbed where goats […]
With or without flowers, I find this plant really beautiful as it spreads out over the rocks of Socotras highest poeaks. This was one of very few with inflorescences – on the very highest mountain of Socotra – Skant. This is a younger specimen which at first will grow as a cushion plant, but if […]
As the island of Socotra is basically one big goat farm, there are very few plants that are not consumed, or at least stunted by their grazing. Several plant species are venomous while others emit sticky or foul tasting juice. This species has no such defense and is eaten by goats. Thus I was looking […]
This species grows to the size of small trees, and this one is just a few meters from the highest point of Socotra – Skant (or Skand). Endemic Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 400 Shutter speed: 1/400 s
No surprise in color distribution in UV light compared to visible light for this species – brighter center compared to the darker outer. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/60 s
This species grows to the size of small trees, and this one is just a few meters from the highest point of Socotra – Skant (or Skand). Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/20 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 1600 Shutter speed: 1/250 s
The flowers of this giant of hypericums are dark in center in UV, compared to the all-yellow in visible light. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/10 s
When I suddenly stood in front of a hypericum tree, my heart jumped an extra beat and I jumped towards it in awe to make sure I did not hallucinate! This plant is close to 3 meters tall and is not only endangered due to it’s endemism and very limited range but must be of […]
When I suddenly stood in front of a hypericum tree, my heart jumped an extra beat and I jumped towards it in awe to make sure I did not hallucinate! This plant is close to 3 meters tall and is not only endangered due to it’s endemism and very limited range but must be of […]
This is the iconic and endemic bottle tree, or desert rose of Socotra – Adenium obesum ssp. socotranum. When you find one in bloom like this one you simply cannot resist taking a closer look. It is an amazing sight to see the lushness and bright colors in a landscape of dryness – it’s like […]
What’s interesting with this landscape view of the bottle tree, is that the flowers appear same color in UV as the lichen on the rocks! Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/4 s
Many species of plants on Socotra have evolved seed pods like this, and I don’t know why this is a design preferable here, as the content is dispersed by wind in any case. Aperture: ƒ/10 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 500 Shutter speed: 1/1000 s
This species is endemic to Socotra, meaning it grows only on this island! They come in so many shapes and sizes and sometimes resembles works of art – with or without flowers. Despite this it was not easy to find a specimen with a great shape and with flowers, as either I found amazing shapes […]
During my 14 day stay on Socotra I only found this plant with a seed pod. And in what an exquisite state! The pod has just opened, and the seeds are yet to be dispersed by the wind. Timing is everything, but I think luck is a great part as well 😉 Aperture: ƒ/13 Camera: […]
To find Lavender on Socotra was not expected, and my mindset was on this being an invasive or at least non-endemic species. But endemic it is! Again most were completely eaten by goats, but I managed to find one that was partly intact, at least one of inflorescences. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/18 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal […]
To find Lavender on Socotra was not expected, and my mindset was on this being an invasive or at least non-endemic species. But endemic it is! Again most were completely eaten by goats, but I managed to find one that was partly intact, at least one of inflorescences. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/20 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal […]
Appears much duller in UV compared to visible light. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/100 s
Very interesting in UV, as the flowers have more variations in color than in visible light in which it appears uniformly orange.. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/100 s
The unmistakable silhouette of the most famous of all plant species on Socotra. I stayed here for two nights, and what an amazing place – a forest of dragon blood trees! It’s like being in Jurassic park without the dinosaurs! Aperture: ƒ/6.3 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 2000 Shutter speed: 1/2.5 s
All specimens of this species were heavily grazed by goats, so I was very happy to find this plant which had one intact and healthy flower. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/20 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/200 s
All specimens of this species were heavily grazed by goats, so I was very happy to find this plant which had intact and healthy growth. Endemic. Aperture: ƒ/16 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/320 s
White in visible light but quite dark in UV, and stands out in an otherwise dull/grey background in UV. Aperture: ƒ/8 Camera: NIKON D7100 Focal length: 105mm ISO: 800 Shutter speed: 1/100 s
Visiting Socotra is like going back to another time and even to another planet entirely. When visiting the only dragonblood tree forest on the island, you are surrounded by trees so unlike anything alive on Earth today, that you simply cannot wonder if you’ve gone back to prehistoric times. To emphasize the weirdness of the […]
An incredible plant growing to small trees here in Stera of south Socotra. Earlier this morning I saw “bleeding” on the trunks and branches of these plants, and realized it was water. I thought it was moisture caught during the night. It was as salt as it gets! These plants stand tall and strong here […]
A huge trunk with seemingly feeble branches – what a strange plant indeed. This adaptation means it can grow tender and mist leaves at any time – even at the height of the dry season. The trunk stores plenty of moisture for many lean times. Endemic Aperture: ƒ/14 Camera: NIKON D4 Focal length: 210mm ISO: […]