A chance to see Primula allionii, one of the rarest and most beautiful of the alpine flowers and endemic to this area. Also expect to see its cousin P. marginata, of which Farrer wrote-'if out of all the race (of Primula) I had to choose one species alone to cultivate, I'm not sure that my choice would not fall on Primula marginata). Rosettes of Silver Sax's inhabit the rocks, as do woolly Sempervivum and we will be early enough to see Hepatica nobilis and a plethora of orchids and bulbs.
A six-day tour with Oli Cheney
We will depart Nice aiport at 12, then travel to Greolieres, a quiet little town in the Prealpes d'Azur. Once settled we in the afternoon we will visit JBAM (Jardin Botanique des Alpes Maritimes) run by Beth Marshall and David Richter and look at their collection of the flora of the maritime alps- this will be a good opportunity to see the names of the flowers and plans we will be seeing in the wild.
Beth and David are based here and they know the region and flora very well and can show us the spots for a range of very exciting things. We hope to see Crocus versicolor, Bulbocodium vernum, Cytisus ardoinoi, Narcissus poeticus, Hyacinthoides italica, Pulsatilla halleri, Gagea sp., Hepatica nobilis, Iris lutescens, Polygala chamaebuxus and Brassica montana among many others.
As we gain altitude, we will see the Mediterranean flora with Cistus, Gladiolus and many orchids including Orchis purpurea and various Ophrys, slowly turn more alpine. Indeed, Tende is a fantastic area where the Med Flora meets the Alps, so as we get up towards the town we'll see examples of this, with Sempervivum and Silver Saxifrage hanging from the cliffs.
Probably one of the best known and loved flowers of the alpine house, the jewel that is Primula allionii only inhabits these cliffs around Tende. We will go up to a secret protected location to view this plant in its various forms. On the way, the black rock is smothered with woolly rosettes of Sempervivum arachnoideum.
This is such a rich area and as well as the alpine specials are many orchids and other bulbs. We will see the local 'Tende Form' of Saxifraga callosa, and on the rock tracks above the villages S. cochlearis. The vegetation beneath is the perfect home for many taxa of orchids, Fritillaria, and both Primula marginata and Hepatica nobilis.
Transfer to Nice for afternoon departure flights. We will arrive at Nice Airport no later than 12.
Recommended book
'Among the Hills' by Reginald Farrer
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30 March - 4 April 2027
Per person: 2050 euros
Single supplement: 225 euros
Included:
Not included:
Minimum number of participants 4; maximum 12.
For more information on our tours
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