Snow - Too Soon

I awoke to this today :-

My Margueritas aren't very happy about the change in weather, but I'm told they'll get over it!

Overnight at Biglenalp

 Myself and some friends were very lucky to be able to stay over in a privately owned Alp Hut at Biglenalp last week. No electricity, no running water, outside toilet, wood burning stove.
Fabulous.

Our accommodation for the night, with the Eiger West Flank in view.

And up to the right behind the hut.

Looking from the hut towards the valley we see the outside toilet, found at the other end of that barn.

How do you turn this oven on?

 Getting the outside grill going.

 Watching the storm come in.

Which produced an amazing light show.

Luckily we missed out on the golf ball sized hail that Wengen got that evening.

The next morning we had to collect water from the glacier fed stream. By the afternoon there is too much silt and sediment for it to be drinkable.

 It then, of course has to be boiled for safety. 

At that height, 1750m, water boils at about 80*C, so to be sure we had to boil it for a while.

 We needed enough to supply five adults and five teenagers for breakfast and the days hike. We also had to leave water stored for the next visitors.

There were a few trips made to the stream.

Continuing the Orchid Collection

I am so annoyed with myself for not making a video of the Lady's Slipper Orchid, photos of which you can see published earlier this month. I also didn't think to do a video of the Birdsnest Orchid last week. I even had to walk back down a little way to do this video of Corallorhiza trifida, the Birdsnest being even further back down hill.

Today, my day off, it is pouring with rain, so I won't go to try and rectify the missing Birdsnest Orchid problem. Maybe tomorrow.

A couple of repeat orchids in the meantime:-

I forgot this video taken 23rd July.

Pseudorchis albida

Avalanche Protection

There are two walking routes up to Mannlichen from Wengen.

 However, for the last few years we have been only allowed to use the left hand one, and that has been rerouted at the top for safety. 

They are building more avalanche barriers to protect the village.

So it wasn't a particularly peaceful walk last week, with the helicopter flying back and forth delivering materials.

Alpine building site

an idea of the size

The idea is to stop an avalanche from forming by preventing the gathering snowball effect, right from the top.

They seem to manage to build about two rows a year.

This one also hopes to collect falling rocks in the nets.

A Stroll to Männlichen by Flower Photo

Birdsnest Orchid

Coralroot Orchid

spot the Martagon Lily

a bank of St Bruno's Lilies

a collection of Orchids

Round Headed Orchid

Alpenrose

Yellow Bellflower

Black Vanilla Orchid

at the top!

Lady's Slipper Orchid

At last a few days of sunshine, 

so I went in search of the rather rare Lady's Slipper orchid. 

It's usually well and truly over by now. 

But with the late spring they are still going strong. 

They do like it wet and cold.

 Here's the proof.

I also saw this wonderful display of Trumpet Gentian.

What a difference a day makes.

But the aquilegia is very happy, in its shady north facing concrete crack, protected under the roof.

Wild Salad

Full of flavour, full of nutrients, fresh and free.

I love it when I can go for a stroll,

 fresh air, exercise, new thoughts and ideas 

and come home with lunch!

What do we have here?

Chickweed, dandelion, Jack in the Hedge, sorrel, salad burnet, wood sorrel, ribwort, 

wild garlic, 

daisy and clover.

 Delicious, healthy and free.

The view today.

A few rules to take into consideration when foraging:-

• Know your plant. Some plants are deadly poisonous.

• Are you allowed? Is the plant protected by law? Have you asked the owner of the land?

• How clean is the area? Do cars run right by? How many dogs visit? Preferably pick edible plants at least 25m away from any cars.

• Collect into a basket or cloth bag, keeping different species separate.

• Make sure the area is left looking untouched. There is abundance out there, allow it to re coop itself and continue to be enjoyed by others.

• Make sure you have the time and energy left to process your pickings.

Sounds of Wengen in Spring

Take a moment to enjoy the sounds and colours of a peaceful, tranquil Wengen in spring.

The Joys of a Late Spring

Back in Wengen and it's spring. 

The fruit trees are in blossom, 

the tulips are still blooming 

and the fresh green of the new leaves of the trees

 is beautiful to behold.

Usually I miss spring, both ways. When I go back to the UK after the skiing I hopefully catch the end of the bluebells. This year I saw them coming into bloom, and enjoyed the thrill of the daffodils. 

Spring is apparently a month late.

 The cowslips have been out for a while.

Primula veris

The early purple orchids are starting to appear up here in Wengen.

 They are easy to spot from the train up, look to the banks right side just after pulling out of Lauterbrunnen.

Orchis mascula

 

 

 

Lady's smock is delicious to eat in salads. 

The leaves are a peppery watercress flavour.

Cardamine pratensis

The mountain streams are in full flood.
 

These garden gentians are a fabulous colour. 

I haven't seen them out in the wild yet.

It snowed at the top yesterday.

 Here you can see how near to the village it came.