Bodenwiese Gahnshauswiese 14.5.2018

Today is Mother´s day, which means a barbecue in the garden at lunchtime. A long walk only can be done with an early start. This has an additional benefit, because showers and thunderstorms are forecast "from late morning on". So I start from Prigglitz at 6:50 a.m..

After about 40 minutes arrived at the Ganshauswiese, which mainly is in shadow.

Mist at the Semmering region. Maybe it is spilling over from the Mürz valley behind.

A first picture of the Green winged orchid (Orchis morio), possible even in this early light.

I walk the whole grassland, along the mountain slope.

Misty Semmering.

View down to Gloggnitz.

Bei der Bodenwiese gehe ich sofort weiter Richtung Westen, zum "Saurüssel". Zwiebeltragende Zahnwurz (Cardamine bulbifera) on a clearing.

View down to the Schwarza valley from the ridge. In the background the Wechsel region.

Alpine Bird´s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus var. alpinus )

On the summit slope of the Saurüssel an Orange tip (Anthocharis cardamines) butterfly on Alpine rock-cress (Arabis Alpina). A big thanks to Nikolaus Künzle for identification.

A hide on the summit of the Saurüssel is a good view point to look over to Schneeberg.

Mist on the Klosterwappen, the true summit of Schneeberg.

True oxlip (Primula eliator)

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CXommon Grape Hyacinth (Muscari neglectum) ona meadow a bit down from the summit.

Spring gentian (Gentiana verna).

Common Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis).

Back to the Bodenwiese, where I walk a short detour. Alpine Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris).

Alpine Milkwort (Polygala vulgaris).

Narzissus-flowerde anemone (Anemone narcissiflora)

View along the Bodenwiese, ...

 ... which is several kilometres long.

Dew drops in the shadow still hanging on this Sweet-flower rock jasmine  (Androsace chamaejasme).

Globeflowers (Trollius europaeus)

I treat myself to 10 minutes break for a drink.

View to the valley from the Waldburgangerhütte.

At the descent through the forest I find this bird´s nest orchid (Neottia nidus-avis).

White helleborine (Cephalanthera damasonium) ...

 ... and the Sword-leaved helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia) which looks rather similar - but the leaves are different. I am now back to the Gahnshauswiese.

Common Twayblade (Neottia ovata)

Common Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis).

Early purple orchid (Orchis mascula) - I found only this one!

Lesser Butterfly Orchid (Platanthera bifolia)

On the Gahnshauswiese, thounsands of Green winged orchids (Orchis morio) are growing - in different colour variants - this one rather light.

Common Marsh Orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis).

Green winged orchid (Orchis morio) nearly white.

Fragrant orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea)

Burnt orchid (Neotinea ustulata)

Military orchid (Orchis militaris), in between a green winged orchid, nearly withered.

Military orchid (Orchis militaris)

Does Lucy love the flowers? I´m not sure ...

Military orchid (Orchis militaris)

Round-headed rampion (Phyteuma orbiculare)

View over the Gahnshauswiese. The Rax is in mist today.

Green winged orchid (Orchis morio) with light violet stripes ...

 ... this one even lighter.

Green winged orchid (Orchis morio) nearly white.

Green winged orchid (Orchis morio). Three colours in one picture.

Green winged orchid (Orchis morio)

Green winged orchid (Orchis morio) dotted violet - the most frequent variant.

Green winged orchid (Orchis morio)

Green winged orchid (Orchis morio)

Green winged orchid (Orchis morio)

On the final descent to Prigglitz, inside the forest: Common columbine (Aquilegia vulgaris).

Once more the Sword-leaved helleborine (Cephalanthera longifolia)

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