The Dolomites in mid-June – Day 12: Return to Santa Croce

One last day in the Dolomites. Most of our companions had already left, and we wanted to have a gentle day before the stresses of the return trip. Where better than a return to Santa Croce – a stroll across town and a trip up the chair lift, then we could explore the high meadows again without repeating the long descent.

Accompanying us, we had the couple who had joined the party for the first time on the Pordoi the previous day. We hoped to give them a bit more introduction to the typical flora of these meadows.

Badia Town Centre

On our way across town we saw some interesting plants. We had seen this Sedum in several places – it looked particularly good on a flat roof near the bus stop in Corvara – but I don’t know which species or cultivar it is. On an uncultivated verge we passed White Melilot, Melilotus alba.

Vivid yellow and red alpine flowers blooming in a rocky garden setting, showcasing hardy plants ideal for alpine gardening and garden design.

Wild alpine plants growing in a garden bed outside a modern building, showcasing hardy flora suitable for alpine gardening and plant conservation.

Wild alpine flowers in a garden setting, showcasing delicate white blossoms and vibrant greenery, ideal for alpine gardening enthusiasts interested in plant varieties suitable for high-altitude environments.

Bedding plants in vast variety adorned many of the chalet style buildings.

Alpine garden society building decorated with vibrant flowers on balconies, showcasing alpine plants and mountain garden design in a charming alpine style home.

Chair Lift to Santa Croce

Soon we were on the chair lift, gliding effortlessly up the hill past the town church.

Alpine garden landscape with cows, mountain backdrop, and cable cars, showcasing the beauty of alpine flora and scenery, ideal for Alpine Garden Society enthusiasts and mountain garden lovers.

Alpine church in a picturesque mountain village surrounded by lush green hills and traditional Swiss chalets.

What a wonderful way to enjoy these hillsides, with the morning sunshine and the scent of the freshly mown hay. Lost in the experience, once again I failed to have the camera ready for the wonderful clumps of Saponaria ocymoides we passed over.

Cable car ascending lush green Alps landscape with mountains in the background, symbolising mountain tourism and outdoor activities for Alpine Garden Society enthusiasts.

Cable car ascending over lush green alpine landscape with mountains in the background.

Before long we were up by the church, the Rifugio, and the wayside shrines.

A church situated on a grassy hillside with mountains in the background, showcasing stunning alpine scenery. Ideal for alpine gardening enthusiasts and visitors seeking mountain church landscapes.

Alpine Garden Society, mountainous landscape with alpine plants and traditional mountain cottages in a scenic valley setting, promoting alpine gardening enthusiasts.

Meadows

The meadows around the Rifugio were full with flowers. We checked the Small White Orchid we found here on our previous visit. Then we set off down the path northwards, past banks glowing with yellow rattle (Rhinanthus minor), yellow kidney vetch (Anthyllis vulneraria), and red clover (Trifolium pratense). On a stony bank beside the path we passed a large clump of Acinos alpinus.

Wild alpine flowers blooming in a lush green mountain meadow with trees in the background, showcasing diverse flora typical for alpine gardens.

Bright yellow-green orchid flower spike with densely packed small blossoms, common in alpine garden displays, showing unique plant species from the Alpine Garden Society.

Wildflower meadow in alpine garden UK, vibrant yellow, purple and green flowers, showcasing native plants, perfect for alpine gardening enthusiasts, summer bloom, natural landscape.

Pyrola rotundifolia

The Pyrola we had found on our previous visit were further out, and the swoop of the exserted styles made them easier to identify as Pyrola rotundifolia.

White and purple alpine orchids growing in a grassy meadow, showcasing mountain flora.

Wild orchid flowering in alpine meadow, native to mountainous regions, delicate white blossoms amidst lush green grass, perfect for garden lovers and alpine plant enthusiasts.

These meadows were a sea of flowers; it was a joy to wander along below the limestone cliffs.

Wildflower meadow in an alpine garden with colourful native wildflowers and grasses, perfect for conservation and enhancing biodiversity.

Lush green alpine forest with towering rocky mountains in the background, showcasing the stunning natural beauty of mountain landscapes and garden scenery.

Alpine meadow with colourful wildflowers, surrounded by dense evergreen trees and majestic mountain cliffs in the distance, showcasing alpine gardening beauty and biodiversity.

Alpine Garden Society, mountain meadows with wildflowers and lush trees against rugged rocky cliffs, showcasing gardening in high altitudes and alpine plant cultivation.

Linum catharticum

Among the gently swelling mounds cloaked in gold (well yellow rattle), I found I think the largest and most prominent plant I have ever seen of the diminutive Fairy Flax (Linum catharticum).

Alpine garden with lush green meadows and mountain backdrop, showcasing alpine plants and natural beauty.

Vibrant alpine meadow with wildflowers beneath dramatic mountain peaks, showcasing stunning scenery ideal for alpine gardening enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Vibrant alpine meadow with yellow wildflowers beneath towering rocky mountains and lush green pine forests in the Dolomites, ideal for alpine gardening and mountain landscape photography.

Alpine garden plants with small white flowers among green foliage, suitable for rock gardens and high-altitude cultivation.

Gentianella germanica

A week after our first visit, there were now large clouds of lilac scabious flowers, blowing in the breeze, above the shorter, stiffer, darker violet flowers of Gentianella germanica.

Violet alpine flowers blooming in lush green meadow, suitable for alpine gardening and wildflower meadow displays.

Wild alpine meadow with diverse colourful wildflowers including purple and white blooms, lush green grasses, sunny weather, and natural landscape, perfect for alpine plant enthusiasts.

Violet alpine flowers in a lush green garden setting, showcasing the beauty of alpine plants for enthusiasts and gardeners.

With no planned route or destination in mind we could just enjoy the beauty of this place.

Vibrant alpine meadow with wildflowers and tall pine trees against rugged mountain cliffs under a partly cloudy sky, perfect for gardening and outdoor enthusiasts.

Alpine garden with mountain backdrop, lush green meadows, and flowering plants, showcasing the beauty of alpine flora and landscape design at the Alpine Garden Society.

Alpine garden with lush green trees and towering mountain cliffs in the background, showcasing natural beauty and mountain landscape.

Vibrant alpine meadow with wildflowers in front of towering rocky mountain cliffs, showcasing the beauty of high-altitude plant life at the Alpine Garden Society.

Vibrant green alpine meadow with tall coniferous trees under a partly cloudy sky, set against rugged mountain cliffs, ideal for alpine gardening and nature enthusiasts.

Pedicularis palustris

As we crossed a little snow-melt stream, the chives (Allium schoenoprasum) were now in full flower. The purple flowers of Pedicularis palustris adorned another wet seep, along with butterwort leaves (Pinguicula vulgaris).

Wildflower meadow with colourful native UK plants and grasses, ideal for alpine gardens and naturalistic landscaping. Perfect for alpine garden enthusiasts and native plant conservation.

Wild alpine plants and grasses, natural alpine garden habitat, diverse flora in alpine environment, lush green vegetation with small yellow flowers, alpine garden society, native mountain flora, conservation of alpine plant species.

Alpine garden with mountain landscape featuring wildflowers, lush greenery, and rocky peaks, highlighting alpine plant horticulture and outdoor gardening in high-altitude environments.

Purple alpine flowers in a lush garden setting with green foliage, showcasing the beauty of mountain plants for alpine gardening enthusiasts.

Nigritella nigra subsp rhellicani

In places the deep chocolate red flowers of Vanilla orchids studded the ground.

Wildflower meadow in the Alps with colorful alpine plants and mountain landscape, ideal for Alpine Garden Society enthusiasts.

Wildflower meadow on a hillside with trees and distant buildings, representing alpine and British garden landscapes, showcasing biodiversity and natural beauty central to Alpine Garden Society interests.

Alpine Garden Society mountain meadow with wildflowers and alpine plants, scenic mountain backdrop, lush green trees and peaceful natural landscape for alpine gardening enthusiasts and nature lovers.

Wildflower meadow with diverse colorful blooms, lush green grass, and flowering plants, showcasing natural alpine garden landscape for conservation and gardening enthusiasts.

Elsewhere it was still a sea of arnica and clover, dotted with the sky-blue trumpets of Campanula barbata.

Vibrant alpine meadow with wildflowers and lush green trees set against rugged mountain terrain, showcasing natural beauty and biodiversity in alpine gardens.

Wildflower meadow with native Alpine plants, grasses, and colourful blooms perfect for alpine garden enthusiasts and nature lovers.

x Gymnigritella suaveolens

Here I found something we must have missed on our first visit, the deep magenta spike of the hybrid between Gymnadenia and Nigritella which we had seen elsewhere at Pralongia, on the Passo Gardena, and on the Pordoi. A fourth site for something we thought initially to be a most unusual find.

Wildflower meadow with yellow, purple, and white blooms, representing alpine and mountain gardening. Suitable for Alpine Garden Society enthusiasts.

Violet alpine flower growing in grassy meadow, part of the Alpine Garden Society collection.

Gentiana nivalis

We also discovered a lovely new plant we hadn’t encountered before; the tiny deep blue flowers of the later flowering, annual Gentiana nivalis.

Wild alpine meadow with a variety of colourful native plants and flowers, including blue, pink, purple, and yellow blossoms, perfect for alpine gardening and conservation.

Vivid blue and pink wildflowers growing among green grass and foliage, showcasing alpine plant diversity.

Delphinium flower blooming in lush green garden, vibrant blue petals and tall stem, part of alpine plant collection for garden enthusiasts.

I could have spent the whole day here, sitting quietly in the sun, with a cool breeze rippling through this ocean of flowers.

Wildflower meadow in the Swiss Alps with colourful blooms, lush green hills, and towering mountain backdrop, perfect for alpine gardening and nature enthusiasts.

Wildflower meadow with diverse colourful blooms, perfect for alpine garden enthusiasts and plant conservation. Features a variety of native flowers thriving in natural, lush green surroundings.

Vivid alpine meadow with colourful wildflowers and towering mountain backdrop, representing the Alpine Garden Society's dedication to mountain plant conservation and cultivation.

Vibrant alpine meadow with colourful wildflowers and lush green pine trees set against rugged mountain peaks under a partly cloudy sky.

Mountain landscape with alpine trees and meadows, perfect for alpine gardening and plant enthusiasts.

Woodland

We decided to go a little further, descending into the band of woodland, with Tragopogon seedheads, and Trollius europaeus by the path. Here Wolfsbane (Aconitum lycoctonum subsp vulparia) and Germander (Veronica chamaedrys) were in flower. Also Selfheal (Prunella grandiflora) some fine buttercups, and Veratrum lobelianum.

Vibrant alpine wildflowers blooming across a lush green garden landscape, showcasing diverse flora typical of alpine gardens and plant societies.

Wild alpine garden plants with tall, slender green stems and unopened yellow flower buds in a lush meadow.

Wildflower meadow with lush green grass, purple wildflowers, and tall yellow flowering plants in a natural alpine garden setting.

We stopped for lunch on a little terrace in the woods, with views out across the valley. Northwards there was a suggestion of a shower.

Vast mountain landscape with lush green alpine trees and rugged peaks under cloudy sky, showcasing the natural beauty of mountainous regions suitable for alpine garden enthusiasts.

Wildflower-rich alpine garden landscapes with mountain views, showcasing the beauty of native plants and sustainable gardening in high-altitude environments. Perfect for alpine garden enthusiasts.

Alpine mountain landscape with lush green meadows, dense forests, and misty distant peaks, perfect for alpine gardening enthusiasts.

Return

At this juncture we decided to retrace our steps, before we descended too far. The weather was deteriorating a little, and we didn’t want to get soaked the day before our return home.

Vibrant alpine meadow filled with wildflowers in front of majestic mountain peaks, showcasing the natural beauty of alpine gardening and mountainous landscapes.

Vivid alpine meadow filled with yellow and purple wildflowers, showcasing the beauty of mountain flora and biodiversity in alpine gardens.

Wildflower meadow with colourful alpine plants and grasses, ideal for garden enthusiasts and alpine plant lovers. Perfect for creating a natural, vibrant garden landscape with native species.

Wildflower-covered mountain trail with two hikers enjoying a scenic walk in the alpine environment.

Wild alpine flowers in a mountain meadow, showcasing colourful flora for Alpine Garden Society enthusiasts. Perfect for rock gardens, alpine plants, and conservation projects.

Back at the Rifugio, we stopped for a coffee and a tiramisu, while the choughs roamed around us, waiting for leftovers.

Yellow alpine flowers in bloom on a wooden garden table, showcasing the beauty of alpine plants and garden design. Perfect for alpine gardening enthusiasts and garden society members.

Vibrant outdoor image of a smiling man in a wide-brimmed hat and red shirt enjoying a sunny day at a botanical garden or plant nursery, surrounded by greenery and flowering plants, illustrating the passion for alpine gardening and plant appreciation.

Back down in Badia, it seemed too early to retire to the hotel. I decided to revisit the orchids in the wooded slope behind the hotel. The lane upwards was steeper than I remembered when coming down. There was Silverweed (Potentilla anserina) underfoot, and Campanula trachelium peeping out between fence palings. Rosebay Willowherb (Chamaenerion angustifolium) was enjoying the broken ground along the lane.

The view back across the valley to Santa Croce was spectacular, and I was glad to stop and photograph it.

Wild Alpine Forget-me-not plant with small yellow flowers and lush green foliage on rocky soil. Perfect for alpine gardens and rockeries, showcasing hardy mountain flora.

Csillagfürt (Corydalis ochroleuca) growing through a wooden garden fence, highlighting alpine and woodland plant species, ideal for alpine garden enthusiasts and rock garden specialists.

Epipactis atrorubens

Almost immediately I turned into the wood, the excitement started. Beside the track I was walking up, was a heap of limestone boulders, moved from the path to allow vehicle access. Amongst these, my eyes picked out a few tell-tale helleborine spikes. These were Epipactis atrorubens, the Dark-red Helleborine, in full flower. Eventually I found a dozen or so. My disappointment from earlier in the week, when we only found buds, was overturned.

Although it grows in the north of England, I have never seen this in the wild before, so I was delighted.

Rocky alpine terrain with lush green plants and diverse mosses, ideal for alpine gardening enthusiasts.

Rough stone wall with lush green plants and flowers, natural outdoor scenery in the alpine garden society, native rock garden, landscaping and horticulture interest in UK.

Dactylorhiza sambucina orchid flower in natural alpine garden setting, with lush greenery and rocky terrain background. Perfect for alpine gardening and wildflower enthusiasts.

Wild alpine orchid growing among rocks and greenery in a natural mountainous environment, highlighting Alpine Garden Society's focus on alpine plants and rock garden cultivation.

Alpine wild orchid with delicate pink and yellow petals, growing on a green stalk; a stunning example of alpine flora ideal for rock gardens and garden enthusiasts.

Pink orchid growing among rocks in alpine environment.

Pink orchid flower spike growing against rocky background, showcasing alpine plant diversity and wildflower cultivation. Ideal for Alpine Garden Society enthusiasts.

Eventually I left the helleborines, crossed the little stream and started to follow the footpath through the wood. This time I found Herb Paris (Paris quadrifolia) and the little fragrant orchid, Gymnadenia odoratissima.

Moss-covered rocks in a mountain stream, symbolising alpine gardens and natural aquatic environments, perfect for alpine plant enthusiasts.

Winding forest trail through lush greenery and tall trees in a peaceful natural setting, ideal for nature walks and outdoor exploration.

Alpine garden forest trail with lush green grass and tall pine trees in natural woodland setting, perfect for alpine plant enthusiasts and nature walks.

Wild alpine plants and foliage in natural garden setting, showcasing diverse alpine flora for garden enthusiasts and plant lovers, ideal for alpine gardening, nature conservation, and botanical education.

Vascular plant with pinkish-white flowers blooming on a tall spike, set against green natural background, suitable for alpine garden and mountain flora enthusiasts.

Some of the trees were dying or dead, and thick sawdust around their bases suggested that they were being attacked by some boring insect pest.

Agnus castus in natural woodland setting, showing mature tree bark and surrounding undergrowth for gardening and botanical enthusiasts.

Trunk of a mature tree showing burls and vines in a woodland setting, part of alpine plant habitat, designed for alpine gardening enthusiasts focused on hardy plants and unique growths.

Goodyera repens

This time, alone, I wanted to do a more thorough survey of the orchids I had found previously, the Creeping Lady’s Tresses. With careful observation, I counted ten little groups of them, along 200m or so of the track.

A lush green forest trail with tall trees, vibrant foliage, and uneven roots, perfect for hiking and nature walks in the Alpine Garden Society's scenic outdoor spaces.

Lush green alpine forest with moss-covered rocks and diverse plant life, ideal for gardening enthusiasts interested in growing mountain plants and exploring the natural beauty of garden landscapes.

Close-up of alpine plants and grasses growing in a natural forest setting, showcasing native flora for alpine garden enthusiasts and plant conservation.

A vibrant mix of alpine plants and mosses growing on a forest floor, showcasing diverse flora typical of alpine gardens and natural woodland environments.

Native alpine plants growing at the base of a tree in a natural woodland setting, showcasing diverse flora typical of alpine garden environments.

To my complete delight, I found just one spike with a single flower open. This hasn’t quenched my desire to see and photograph this beautiful plant in full flower, but it has at least slaked the note of desperation.

Dense alpine plants and mosses growing on a forest floor, showcasing native flora for alpine gardening enthusiasts.

Delicate alpine wildflower growing among moss and grass in mountainous terrain, showcasing rare plant species found in alpine gardens and the beauty of alpine flora.

This day had proved an unexpected success, with the x. Gymnigritella, the little Gentiana nivalis, and the two woodland orchids to finish on a high note. It was time to say farewell to the Haus Valentin. The next morning we had an early start, and a brief breakfast before climbing on a coach to make our way back to Venice, and the flight home.