Flower Fest and Do I have the Flower for You

morina

So I’m late. But nobody will mind when I arrive with a flower such as this one!!

morina

We came across the thistle-like Morina longifolia in the Valley of Flowers. I was the lone one in the group to walk this far and take pictures of the spent flower heads and tall spikes that looked very sculptural. I wondered how they must have looked a couple of weeks earlier…

morina

A couple of days later, while ambling around the Auli ski-slopes, I spotted the thistle like foliage again! This time I called out to the rest of the group lunching on very forgettable dosas. Some of the spikes still held the tiny white and pink flowers! This was also where I had spotted the Geum. And the happy cows that produce the sweetest milk. You didn’t need to sweeten the tea made from this milk!

Cows

morina

M is for…
Morina longifolia
Common name : Whorlflower
A Himalayan wildflower with thistle like foliage, pink and white flowers, in whorls, borne on two-three feet tall spikes. Flowers (in the Valley of Flowers) between June and September.

Thank you, Manisha, for asking me to participate in the Flower Fest, the A-Z of Flowers all those months ago. I don’t think I could have gotten more mileage out of that one trip! :)

Published in: on March 13, 2007 at 6:34 pm

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14 Comments Leave a comment.

  1. On March 14, 2007 at 1:34 am Manisha Said:

    You know with every entry, you make Valley of Flowers a most-wanted trip for me.

    These are amazing! Will update the round up for M soon and let you know.

  2. On March 14, 2007 at 5:01 am krithika Said:

    Totally agree with Manisha. Looks like we have to make a trip to valley of flowers. Beautiful pic !

  3. On March 14, 2007 at 5:55 am Musical Said:

    Thats so pretty…..i love flowers and taking flower pictures…..now, thats a must see :).

  4. On March 14, 2007 at 12:54 pm pelicano Said:

    Me too….where is the Valley of Flowers? The whorl-flower looks like it might be in the mint family(Labiatae). I love your pics Anita…

  5. On March 14, 2007 at 10:03 pm Anita Said:

    Manisha, Krithika, Musical and Pel: You’d think I was getting some commission from Garhwal Tourism! But seriously, I am planning my second trip for Aug 2009. Should I count all of you in?! :)
    And Pel, check the links in the post (to my older posts) for more info on VOF and that trip.

  6. On March 14, 2007 at 10:18 pm Swapna Said:

    Beautiful flowers and beautiful snaps:)
    Swaps

  7. On March 15, 2007 at 11:36 am Manisha Said:

    Shilpa (eyeonnature.blogspot.com) updated the round up. Take a look!

    School starts early this year - Aug 16th. I’d love to go but pas possible. :-(

    I corrected that - I meant 2009!!

  8. On March 15, 2007 at 4:12 pm sia Said:

    beautiful pics of Whorlflower… never seen it till now.

  9. On March 16, 2007 at 12:45 am Suma Gandlur Said:

    Oh my god!!! I have never seen such beautiful flowers / plants. Good job.

  10. On March 16, 2007 at 4:37 am Sharmi Said:

    hi,
    Very peculiar looking flower!! nice pics

    cheers
    sharmi

  11. On March 16, 2007 at 2:53 pm Anita Said:

    Swapna, Sia, Suma, and Sharmi: It is all nature’s work. But I can take the credit for bringing it to you all!

  12. On March 17, 2007 at 6:52 am Manisha Said:

    2009. That might work. Who knows! I don’t even know if we are going away for spring break, which starts next Friday. The whole neighborhood is going to be gone. We’re the only ones with no plans as yet. I’m looking at Sand Dunes, Mesa Verde or Arches (Moab) but I’m the only one - have a stubborn desk-bound husband to convince. Have told him I need a new camera for Arches and Mesa Verde so I think this is his way of getting out of doing both.

  13. On March 17, 2007 at 11:47 am pelicano Said:

    August 2009? Wow, you DO plan ahead! I’ll seriously keep it in mind. Are there any mangoes left anywhere at that time?

    Actually I don’t. Just that by then son will be in college somewhere (somewhere good, I pray)…and I want to visit Badrinath and say ‘thank you’. That is one temple where I connected (very strange really) - I hardly ever visit temples. It is a very old, very small stone temple, in the South Indian temple-style, and off-season is a good time to visit!

  14. On March 17, 2007 at 10:54 pm krithika Said:

    Aug, 2009 might work. See you then :-)

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