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                         a   S T A M M E R  project              

2007 July 14 & 15, Saturday & Sunday

By now most birds have decided to keep quiet. We haven't heard the Nightingales any more and also the Golden Oriole we still heard last week has shut up or gone. Tireless are the cicades who seem to enjoy high temperatures (this weekend almost 35ºC). Here a photograph of Lyristes plebejus one of the biggest cicadas in Europe with a wingspan of almost 10 cm. It makes a deafening sound that can best be described as an engine that doesn't really get started. Here a recording from Saturday morning.

Lyristes plebejus against a Quercus faginea tree on the central terrace.
Saturday 13:23

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Before the severe midsummer drought it is perhaps a nice moment to evaluate the condition of the different plantings. Not everything has been a success and part of the blame falls on the lack of streaming water on the terrain. We are going to apply for it in the future but in the meantime we will have to do with filling plastic bottles at the village fountain. As a consequence not all plantings have received the adequate amount of water and among the first casualties are Viburnum tinus, Mespilus japonicus and Pistacia lentiscus. The rest is doing more or less fine.

Rosmarinus officinalis is a champion in dry conditions and although it received very little watering it is surprisingly vital.
Sunday 10:00

Another champion is the good old Olive tree, in this case the variety 'Picual'.
Sunday 10:15

Corylus avellana (Common Hazel) is having more difficulties. Still one green leave is present and also the buds for next year have developed but will it survive the summer..
Sunday 10:01

Quince (Cydonia oblonga var. 'Gigante de Wranja').
Sunday 10:30

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The fruit trees on the lower terrace have received the biggest quantity of water carried to the terrain and I also kept a relatively wide circle free of surrounding vegetation to keep competition and evaporation under control. This seem to have positive effects because they have shown a good shape so far with the exception of some nibbling, by a rabbit probably.

Plum tree (red, 'Freedom')
Sunday 10:28

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The spontaneous vegetation is dominated by one species these days: the Wild carrot (Daucus carota).  Thanks to its deep taproot (the carrot) it is not so affected by the summer drought and offers a remarkable fresh and sturdy aspect.

An isolated Wild carrot shows the graceful style of this plant that resists the strongest of wind gusts.
Lower western terrace, looking north.
 Sunday 11:04

Wild carrot with Althaea cannabina on the lower western terrace.
Looking north-west.
Saturday 12:57

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Only one new species detected: Bupleurum rigidum, a plant that has something archaic and primitive about it, both in leaves and flowers.

Bupleurum rigidum in the half shade of the wood border.
Sunday 10:10

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There haven't been any serious thunderstorms recently and the pond is completely dry. A young Ocellated lizard (Timon lepidus) seems to have taken up residence under the rubber liner at the pond border. The first plants I have detected among the stones are the annual grass Setaria pumila, Reseda phyteuma and Fallopia convolvulus (Wild Buckweed).

Close-up of the pond, looking east.
Sunday 11:16

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These photographs taken around midday give an impression of the midsummer aspect of the lower terrace from the eastern to the western extreme.

Eastern extreme, looking east.
Sunday 11:32

Centre, looking east. In the foreground some Santolina chamaecyparissus  shrubs
Sunday 12:32

introduction
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gallery 1: 2006-2012
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<< 2007 Jul  7