 Poster: A snowHead
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Planning a holiday with a friend - with the aim of doing lots of not-too-knackering walks. Either first half of June or end June - early July (because her dog-sitter can't do the second half of June).
It depends on the altitude, obviously, but I'd be interested to get views on when the meadows are at their best. The first flush of flowers, before the first hay cut is always the best, I reckon.
We will be walking mostly between 1300 - 2000m.
What do people think?
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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pam w, I had a week near Annecy in, I think, the first week in June once. The meadow flowers were sensational. The only snag was that it rained non-stop for the whole week. 
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I did a summer season in Lech am Arlberg a few years ago. We arrived there mid June and there were plenty of flowers around, not just resort level (1400m) but higher up too so I'd guess you'd be fine with either date. The Winter leading up to that had been fairly similar to this one in terms of snow cover/disappearance at the end of season.
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pam w, actually any time during that window june-july but july is best for the flowers around us - july certainly best for vanilla orchids and common purple orchids, as well as rare things like giant gentians and flat ground thistles. The big burst of flowers can be very temperature dependent - this year looks warm so far.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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I've had summers in Wengen with alpine flowers around from June till Early August similar altitude (well a bit more at the upper end) Best time was probably June for the most flowers, but it does depend on when the snow melts.
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Late Jun early July in Tignes at 2100m. Over buy August. Even spotted an eidelweiss (rare around these parts) in the Sassiere plateau - lots of points from Mrs CA senior!
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We went out out end of June (28th) and we did feel that we had missed the best of the meadows (1400m) though they were still pretty impressive, some say that end May is when you start to get the blankets of smaller flowers, and the meadows flower through June.
This year we're going out circa 8th June and coming back end of July as I didn't like cycling in August, just too busy on the classic cols.
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| Quote: |
spotted an eidelweiss
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well done; never seen one of those yet. Thanks folks, lots to think about. this time last year the hills were still covered in loads of snow but this year has certainly seen a much warmer spring. June was miserable last year - heavy low cloud, rain and snow patches everywhere (I wasn't there, judging just by webcams!). I think family reasons (likely need for child care end June/early July) might dictate the earlier dates. Oh for a crystal ball!
boredsurfin, the dandelions are really quite attractive! Was amused to find the French name is pissenlit - so maybe there's some truth in the old wive's tale. The locals dig up the roots/shoots of the very young plants to put in salads. I saw an elderly couple digging things up on a walk a few years ago and stopped to ask them what they were doing. Early June will be right for wild strawberries this year, I reckon, and I spotted some very promising banks in early April, with flowers in bloom.
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pam w, I've seen loads of edelweiss on walking holidays in the Dolomites. They are outstandingly boring flowers, imho. 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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pam w, it's a close run thing!
Gentians are my favourites.
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What a lovely thread !  Climbing from 1,300 to 2,000 should span all of June and half of July I would have thought, although this warm year may bring things forward by a week or two. Our Wisteria is beginning flowering now and Peony about to pop, at 1,000m.
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You know it makes sense.
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pretties
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Lovely 
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Poster: A snowHead
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We did the TMB late June early July. The flowers were stunning.
Last edited by Poster: A snowHead on Sun 27-04-14 17:50; edited 1 time in total
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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| pam w wrote: |
| this time last year the hills were still covered in loads of snow but this year has certainly seen a much warmer spring. June was miserable last year - heavy low cloud, rain and snow patches everywhere (I wasn't there, judging just by webcams!). I think family reasons (likely need for child care end June/early July) might dictate the earlier dates. Oh for a crystal ball! |
I don't remember it being particularly miserable. I have some fairly sunny photos from the first bit of the month, though it was definitely variable day to day (really warm and sunny and kids swimming in the lake at Flumet one day, snowing and making snowmen on the Col des Aravis the next during the late May half term week).
There's a sunny cycling photo from the Col de Saisies on the 27th of May on our Facebook page that shows there was still a lot of snow there, and the cows at the next door farm couldn't go to their summer home here until mid June, 3 weeks later than the year before. We had a big group in for a week from the 15th of June and it was HOT (not just warmer) for the duration of their stay… we were putting out extra tubs of suncream for everyone with breakfast and they ate outside every evening. Seem to remember it being much cooler and damp for a few days after they left and then it was largely a hot and sunny summer after that.
It has been a different story so far this year… the goats are out in our meadow already… I guess the best person to ask this question of is the local farmer, and when they are planning to move the cows this season!
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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shep, our peonies must be a little slower than yours.
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Hey mate, like I told you before - when the flag drops, the bullsh*t stops
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Did a walk in Ischgl two days ago, too hot to ski on porridge! Saw some lovely gentians on the sunny side of the valley. I look forward to seeing your report to find out when the best time to go is
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You'll need to Register first of course.
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Whats this then?
Last edited by You'll need to Register first of course. on Sun 27-04-14 19:09; edited 1 time in total
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boredsurfin, I'm never sure with all these LBJs - there are lots of different gentians. Or maybe a campanula? I'm not too bothered about the names - just like looking at them!
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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pam w, we always have 10 days in Arlberg end August and the flowers are always stunning, the meadows especially.......I particularly love the high Alpine flowers, esp Azaleas plus in towns/ villages the houses just look fantastic. Can't beat a Murmele (Marmot), a proper waterfall and a big cow with a bell either!
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pam w, I spoke to my friend today who does those "Rando-cueillette de plantes médicinales ou comestibles" mornings I mentioned to you last year. She reckoned the earlier slot should be good for flowers but the later slot would be better with more variety… she has grown up here and is obviously pretty knowledgeable about the local flora… but clearly there is no magic mountain crystal ball!
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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boredsurfin, First one's wood sorrel, usually comes in white, second one possibly alpine squill, not always easy to tell just from a photo. Dandelion is medicinally known as a diuretic and Pedantica, I agree about the edelweiss but until you've seen one it's a bit of a hyped up holy grail.
Shut me up I'm boring myself.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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Forget flowers, what about the strawberries?! Last year in the chamonix valley at 1200m mid-late July had good flowers but more importantly exceptional wild strawberries (much more interesting than flowers ). I'd estimate that this year it will be around 2 weeks earlier than last year due to a much warmer winter and spring. N facing vs s facing and elevation changes mean you can find good flowers at almost any time of spring/summer. Good strawberries on the other hand are much rarer!
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snowdave, indeed, the strawberries are delicious, and available over quite a wide time period, depending on altitude and aspect. I have a good few spots mapped out, where there were flowers already, and many more on the way, around mid April. Ideally you need them on a sunny bank, so you don't need to crawl around on hands and knees to find them. I've picked loads and loads of raspberries over the years - but they're second half of August round my altitude.
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You know it makes sense.
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Mmmmm wild strawberries. Used to annoy a friend of mine on climbing trips to Cheedale by stopping all the time to munch on them when he wanted to get to the rock.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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robapplegate, Not at all
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Poster: A snowHead
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boredsurfin, Thank you, bit of a hobby of mine
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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robapplegate, Looking for some more for you to identify
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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boredsurfin, Oh god you're bound to catch me out. Someone may yet turn up and prove me wrong 
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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another one for you, robapplegate. no chance of my proving you wrong - I look up these things then immediately forget them. And I would like to see an edelweiss.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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pam w, Was it in the alps? Possibly Field Cow Wheat, rare in britain, we get the Crested Cow wheat, closely related to the Eyebright, probably one of the prettiest flowers.
Yes, everyone should see an edelweiss.
Good luck, you'll probably trip over one when you least expect it then go on to see hundreds for the rest of the day.
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It's all pretty and green here (west austria) sub 1200m at the moment, give it another month and I'm sure it'll be ready for your wanderings...
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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