The art of flowers

What a difference a few weeks and lots of rain makes. The hills are looking lush again and rivers and streams are flowing. In the few days before I took the photograph below it had not quite been warm enough for the cistus and asphodels to turn the hills white. However it won’t be long before the hills disappear under a glorious floral blanket of Cistus, Asphodelus and lavender. DSCN4728

At first glance you might think there were only Bermuda Buttercups, but as I discovered on Thursday’s short stroll in the baixa Guadiana there is more than enough in flower to keep this amateur botanist happy. Well sort of happy, as it wasn’t long before I realised how much this amateur botanist had forgotten. I really do have a head like a sieve when it comes to flower names.

I couldn’t seem to remember the name of anything, and even back at the apartment with my books I have been struggling. Thank goodness last year I had the sense to create a post with links to all the fabulous flora websites that are out there, as without these I am not sure I would have been able to have labelled even half of the photographs in this post.

As it is there are a few which I am still not certain on, thanks to my habit of not taking sufficient photographs of the leaves and stem. And there is one I just cannot identify. I am sure I have labelled it before, so hopefully I will track down its name, or at least its family name one day soon. In the meantime I will just have to enjoy how beautiful it all looked, particularly when I got down to flower level!

As I think I explained at the start all of these flowers were taken on the same walk, and most of the time we were in glorious sunshine. Every now and again though we were surrounded by stormy skies, but fortunately the heavens did not open. This walk is one I have shared with you numerous times before, and as normal we walked it the opposite way round to everyone else. Much better our way!! We did though make one small change on the return, partly to avoid a potentially challenging stream crossing but mainly because we were in the mood for exploring. I am so glad we did as it was a lovely way back.

It has been a while since I shared a stroll with Jo and her Monday walkers, so hope she won’t mind it is one we have done before. I’ll probably be return to it again soon as I have not mention the bird life, nor have I shared any photographs of the wonderful flowing streams and rivers. It really is a lovely short walk, and best of all Jo there are plenty of cafes in the village for afters!

Author: BeckyB

It had been a good life walking, cooking, photographing, volunteering, blogging, and best of all spending time with MrB, family, & friends. Sadly it no longer is. Suddenly and unexpectedly I have become a widow.

50 thoughts

  1. The wild flowers are so lovely Becky. I am amazed to see so many at this time of the year when ours are only just beginning to appear.

      1. Ooh now there’s a thought. It could be, will see if I have any better photos of leaves. I am hopeless when it comes to identification shots.

        2. Yet to find a better one of the leaves, so will have to take a better photograph next time I am up there. Looking at my book though I think you are spot on 🙂

    2. It is the best time of year to be here – March thru April. Quite extraordinary what there is. Hoping to squeeze in an orchid walk after Easter.

  2. It’s always amazing the difference a good amount of rain makes. Your wildflower photos are gorgeous, even without identification. A couple of weekends ago we got exactly 100mm overnight after no rain since November and within a couple of days everything had new growth. Now everything is flowering like crazy. It’s lovely.

  5. You are not the first to say I’m on a different planet!! 😉

    Have you got the snow? We’ve got rain today – ny fault for mentioning spring.

  6. It sure is! Sometimes I think you are on a different continent Becky! Or even a different planet! Yet it’s only what, 1500-1800 kms south of here.

  7. That looks like rosemary (if that was the one you were referring to?) This looks like a wondrous walk! I would really like to visit Portugal, and it looks like spring is a fantastic time for a walking holiday. How I long for a bit of your sunshine as I watch the garden turn white!

    1. ah no, the one I am stumped on is the pink ground level one.
      You would love this walk, and early Spring is a great time to be walking here – mid March thru late April. After that it can be too hot for long walks.

    1. Thank you so much, and I so agree with you. Wonderful country for walking. They should do more to promote it.

        1. That’s very true. My heart does sink sometimes when we discover a large group of walkers ahead or behind us! We now tend to ignore the signposted walks and create our own 😉

  9. Great photos and lovely flowers, I especially like the gum rock rose and love the shot of the chickens 🙂

  10. I guessed Azinhal, but you are a well trained tagger, Becky. 🙂 🙂 Not like some folk. Hee! Hee! Thank you for reminding me what I’m missing. I have vowed to myself next March will be spent in Portugal. 🙂

    1. ooh cheeky! I wonder if they will notice 😀

      Yay about next March. You’ll need to make sure you are here in April too though as it is a very late Easter next year.

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