Pottschacher Hütte 10.5.2012
A morning´s walk with Herwig Gießwein: from Gasteil to the Pottschacher Hütte, further on to a small grassland called "Kaiserwiese" ("Emperor´s grassland") and back.
My route: 9,5 km and about 500 m ascent.
In the morning it is overcast after a slight drizzle during the night, so no pictures, but after an hour or so, the clouds clear and the sun comes out.
The hunting lodge at the Kaiserwiese. In this hut, the Austrian emperor is said to have spent a night, hence the name.
Near the forest, oxlips (Primula eliator) still flourishing at this altitude (1.178 m) .
Dandelion.
Near the path at the decscent: Terracina Spurge (Euphorbia terracina)
The view from Pottschacher Hütte over the valley to the Wechsel and Semmering region.
In the background Sonnwendstein, Hirschenkogel and Stuhleck.
As a detour on the way back, we visit this large grassland nearby.
Here, lots of orchids of different species are growing: Elder-flowered Orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina) in yellow
Aquilegia (Aquilegia vulgaris)
View from here over the southernmost part of the southern Vienna´s plain to the Rosalia mountains.
Narcissus-flowered anemone (Anemone narcissiflora)
Heath spotted orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata)
Elder-flowered Orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina) in the two colors yeallow purple.
Meadow salsify (Tragopogon pratensis)
Elder-flowered Orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina)
I´m not sure about this one: maybe it is a yellow variant of Early Marsh orchid (Dactylorhiza incarnata subsp. ochroleuca, D. ochroleuca) - or it is a yellow Elder-flowered orchid?
Dandelion with a visitor
Globe flowers (Trollius europaeus) in the grass.
Heath Spotted Orchid (Dactylorhiza maculata)
Elder-flowered Orchid (Dactylorhiza sambucina)
Globe flowers (Trollius europaeus) in a somewhat wet place ...
