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                         a   S T A M M E R  project              

2009 February 28 and March 1, Saturday & Sunday

Last week the Common snowdrops (Galanthus nivalis) started to flower. I detected 13 different flowering plants, so practically all the bulbs planted last autumn had emerged. I planted them with a space of 1/2 to 1 metre between them and it will be interesting to see how they will spread in the coming years. They seem mainly to reproduce in a  vegetative way as the setting of seed is very sparce (at least in the Netherlands). Once established they can be extremely persistent to such a degree that after more than a century they can still indicate the site of a house of which all other traces have vanished, which puts our own activities on this terrain into a nice perspective.
In Aragon Common snowdrops are native for the higher Pyrenees (above 850m) but quite rare.

Galanthus nivalis on the central terrace, looking east.
Photograph taken on 22 Feb '09 9.45

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Inflow of running rainwater into the ponds has been minimal during this winter. The water level is nevertheless almost at maximum, mainly because of very low evaporation but perhaps the condensation of dew on the cold stones in the morning will also add some substantial water.

The water has a nice brown tinge and is very clear, especially in the lower, secondary pond .

This weekend we heard the first croaking of the Natterjack toads (Epidalea calamita) in the ponds .

Lower pond, with the Pyrenees to the north.
Photograph taken on 22 Feb '09 8:56

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Little by little the vegetation starts ermerging and the two Iris species are leaders.

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The vegetable garden is also gathering shape. We bought some more fruit trees and shrubs, among others: apple and pear trees, kiwis, kakis and 8 different varieties of grape. For a complete list see the map below.

Provisional design of the vegetable garden, with a list of planted fruit species.

introduction
floristic catalogue
faunistic catalogue
contact
index
gallery 1: 2006-2012
gallery 2: 2012-
map
>> 2009 Mar  6
<< 2009 Feb 14