Intoxicating botany

Gladiolus illyricus

Dianthus monspessulanus (hyssopifolium)

Legousia speculum-veneris

Filipendula vulgaris

Lathyrus latifolius

Potentilla erecta

Prunella grandiflora

Betonica officinalis

Rhinanthus freynii

Libelloides macaronius - a colorful net-winged insect (Neuroptera), belonging to the family Ascalaphidae (Owlflies). Superficially resembling a dragonfly.

Suffering from heavy botanical intoxication at the moment. This is simply the best time of the year to go around and look for wildflowers, so that's what I've been doing. Above is a selection of the stuff seen this morning on the Slovenian Karst. I have tons of flower pics I could post... but I always try to do a "best selection" of every trip. Today apart from the above I was also quite happy with an unexpeceted White Stork in flight over the fields. This is probably one of the birds breeding around Razdrto or somewhere in the Vipava valley. I don't know any breeding locations on the Karst. Despite the late time of my visit, a Barred Warbler called from a bush and several other birds were singing, including an odd Nightjar, delivering its song at around midday!
Also a few Hoopoes, a Quail, Black Woodpecker and usual summer breeding mix.