Limodorum abortivum

I am hoping to go to the south of Heraklion area in the next few days to photograph this beautiful orchid, which I have so far seen only in bud. If I am really lucky I might also find Cephelantera cucullata one of Crete's rarest endemic orchids. Rosemary and I saw one specimen last year, but the wind was so strong my photos didn't do it justice. If I find any I will post the photos here. Today I am working on my commission for Heather to paint Bituminaria bitunminosa - not easy as the flowers are so small, but I have finished the preliminary drawings and will start on the layout today.

New nesletter

I am working on the Flowers of Crete newsletter - very belated I'm afraid - but if you have any articles you can contribute, please let me know.

My Artwork

I have just started a new blog for my artwork - www.jjbotanicalart.blogspot.com if you would like to take a look.

Palm Weevil

This morning (Sunday) I have killed two palms weevils at the house in Pano Elounda. Unless something is done immediately, we stand no chance of saving the Palms at Vai.

Cretan Date Palm

It is with much regret I have to report that according to MAICH in Chania, the Red Palm Weevil is infecting some of the Palms at Preveli. I saw no sign of the weevil when I was there a couple of weeks ago, but then I didn't examine every palm. I spoke with the owners of several tavernas near the palm beach and they knew nothing about the threat to their palms or their livelihoods. MAICH is apparently 'monitoring' the situation but we have no information as to what this entails. I have killed three weevils at the house in Pano Elounda over the last few weeks and I am appalled at its spread. It will not be long before it reaches VAI. Rosemary and I have tried all avenues to get some co-ordinated help to deal with the problem, but so far each dimos seems to be doing its own thing. We have tried to make an appointment with the head of the province of Lassithi but without success. We really don't know what we can do to make a difference.

Conference on Biodiversity in Kolymbari

Rosemary and I returned last night exhausted but very heartened by the response we received at the Conference from botanists and scientists from around the world. I will be posting much more about the conference shortly, but in the meantime I will post some photos of the devastation being wrought at Afrata - a site world famous for its cyclamen meadows. Despite efforts by Flowers of Crete to find some funding to buy a piece of land there, the diggers have now moved in and soon there will be little, if anything left. Once Rosemary and I have discussed the Conference and all its implications, I will be posting reports on the various topics and also some wonderful images of Greek Red List species that we were lucky enough to see over the course of the week,