Carpets of Flowers

Were the order of the day when I hiked back up to Anzeindaz and on to the Pas de Cheville.   The day started bright but as often happens in the mountains, clouds developed and there was a little rain after midday.  

Gentiana verna, the Spring Gentian, loves seasonally moist places and flowers soon after the soldanallas and crocuses that break ground immediately the snow melts.  I have added a few extras but it could have been a dozen.  Gentiana acaulis, the Trumpet Gentian, another early flower.  Orchis pallens, a pale yellow flowered orchid that is not common. I saw just the one.  The diminutive Viola biflora which usually lurks in shady places but was caught, peeping out from under a rock in the early sun and finally tiny Saxifraga exerata growing on an exposed rock at the Pas de Cheville.

It's been a fantastic return to the alps this last week, up there with the best I have ever experienced for both weather and flowers .... and good company :-)