So many colours! All shining between snow and sun.
Hurried breakfast, out on the trail. It is a switchback – what could be more Swiss? – and it is fragrant, pine sap perfume leaking from a thousand trees. Red squirrels flit between them, much darker here than their lowland kin.
The Matterhorn is veiled – clouds encircle it, as if entranced. Somewhere to my right are the misshapen summits of the Monte Rosa massif, western Europe’s highest mountains after mighty Mont Blanc. It is always winter up there, and even ten thousand feet beneath the Rosa, the snow is yet to die.
Waterfalls infuse the Vispa River with glacial glow. But the meadows sparkle on with every colour in the paintbox.
Mountain houseleek
Globeflower
Yellow alpine pasqueflower
Alpine aster
Every forgotten bank and unnamed corner is as rich as England’s best SSSIs. Up to eighty species of plant per 100 square metres – this is a garden of wild things, stretching onwards for mile upon mile.
The trail has not ended. Many hours have passed. Time to pause and reflect.
A Walk with Wildlife 
A scenery that one can image to be in Alps only!!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Quintessential Alpine 🙂
On another note, I was surprised and pleased to remember how much forest still exists in the Alps.
LikeLike
What a delight seeing those alpine meadows must have been! Beautiful!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Swiss meadows are very special 🙂 Good for learning more flower ID, too! I’d never even heard of houseleek before but it is rather pretty.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Lovely photos and descriptions Adele!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Belinda 🙂 I’m still somewhat stunned that I’m posting photos of Switzerland. I booked it less than 24 hours before arriving! I had to cancel another holiday at very short notice, and while looking for other ideas, thought about the Alps. So glad I did – it was a truly wonderful adventure.
LikeLike
Adele, great post! They are all new flowers to me! Such a treat for the eyes! Your last shot is quintessential Swiss!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hello Robin! Thank you – it was an amazing experience to walk in these legendary meadows. The Swiss Alps deserve all their fame.
By the way, have you changed your blog address? I’ve been looking at Robin’s Daily but noticed that you haven’t updated it recently – just wanted to check that you don’t have another site that I’m missing! 🙂
LikeLike
Wonderful descriptions and photos Adele. I have had real problems with slow loading times on WordPress so have got a bit behind. I am enjoying catching up with your posts.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Hi Carol, only just found your comment – sorry! Glad you enjoyed the flowers. Good memories of a wonderful three days in Switzerland.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh thanks for following up Adele. I checked back and am amazed to see that your trip to Switzerland was back in about July last year.
LikeLike