Showing posts with label may. Show all posts
Showing posts with label may. Show all posts

Saturday, 30 June 2018

May wrap up and June in the Alpes grées

To recap March and April weather wasn't the best delaying many flowering plants although beech (fagus sylvatica) flushed early. Then May reverted to above average warmth, or as the Met office put it:
"The persistent sun and warmth meant that this was the highest average maximum temperature on record for May."

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/summaries/anomacts

https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/summaries/anomacts

The record (UK) warmth accelerated spring and overhead skies were mostly clear with just the odd band of heavy rain or thundery showers. The insects were especially tiresome with midges and mosquitoes out in biblical numbers in the shade and shelter of the woods. In oakwoods bracken (Pteridium aquilinum) emerged just as bluebell carpets came into flower. Suffice to say that this was not a vintage spring for my photography. Still there was a trip revisiting the Graian Alps to offset the despair.

Graian Alps ~ June 2018



Sunday, 22 March 2015

Making plans

A trip pencilled in to the Graian Alps in June, to coincide with the areas spectacular wild flower displays both meadows and alpines, has had to be shelved until next year, due to work and social commitments. So with the wander lust of photographing wild flowers and scenery seeded, a look at what the UK had to offer in May and specifically Scotland.
Maybe 2016?

The Breadablane hills and Ben Lawers immediately came to mind, as did the Cairngorms for its arctic flora and scenery.  Nic, then chipped in that she would like to see some wildlife and specifically marine wildlife, hmmm. Googling 'sea safari, whale watching, boat trips' and some candidates were unveiled. Knowing full well of Scotlands changeable weather, the contingency plans of  wildlife hide, geology, woodland, bryophytes etc were assessed.
Ariundle woodland, November 2010


A list of potential locations were then appraised, Skye and Mull ticked a lot of wildlife, flora and scenery boxes, but not all, as I do like the chance of a wander amongst Pine and Oak woods.  Having visited Ariundle woods in autumn, there was a certain appeal for a spring visit. The Ardgour region also ticked almost all the must and want boxes, some boxes even had multiple ticks, a draft itinerary with, oh so important weather contingency plans, was duly outlined to Nic's approval. A cottage booked in Strontian, the web scoured to see if any effective effective midge, tick and cleg repellants had been formulated and a couple of months to finalise an itinerary for all weather eventualities, with fingers crossed for an optimal weather spell of sunshine and showers.