It was no time from San Luigi to the hilltop. However, with so many trees, and a flat top. it wasn't clear which was actually the highest point. To our surprise, we found couple more settlements near the top - presumably because it is nice and flat for building and farming in clearings among the trees. One has been converted into holiday cottages - complete with swimming pool! However, the other still seemed to be a working unit - if the clamour from several dogs is to be believed!
On the way back down, Barbara caused considerable excitement when she spotted a snake sunning itself just a few yards away, on the high bank above the path. By the time I had seen it, it was making its escape though, and the photo below is not mine. We are pretty sure it was a Western Whip snake, and quite common (though this is the first we have seen!).
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Our target, seen from the house - Monte Gragno, the hill with the vertical crag at left
(We climbed Monte Palodina - on the right - last year) |
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| On the way up ... |
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| More crocuses! |
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Part of the shepherds' settlement - drifts of wild crocuses can be seen below
the washing line |
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| Crocuses backlit by the sunshine |
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On the way back - the crags of Monte Gragno with the snow-capped
Appenines and villages near to Barga visible in the middle distance |
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| The Western Whip snake - a bit closer up than the one we saw ... |
brilliant the photo of monte gragno's crag seen from barga and then seen from the crag itself!
ReplyDeletethe snake: could not have been a viper?
lovely pictures of the crocuses and of the shepherds settlement!
and the scottish shepherd's beard is growing longer!
brilliant the photo of monte gragno's crag seen from barga and then seen from the crag itself!
ReplyDeletethe snake: could not have been a viper?
lovely pictures of the crocuses and of the shepherds settlement!
and the scottish shepherd's beard is growing longer!
I am trying to visualise what Barbara causing considerable excitement looked like. You mean you started running? We have our drifts of crocuses too, but they are planted by school children and municipal gardeners on our urban 'the Meadows', but they cannot compete with the beautiful setting of your wild crocuses.
ReplyDeleteI am trying to visualise what Barbara causing considerable excitement looked like. You mean you started running? We have our drifts of crocuses too, but they are planted by school children and municipal gardeners on our urban 'the Meadows', but they cannot compete with the beautiful setting of your wild crocuses.
ReplyDelete