![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O9JoMCqtkfo/U60rulO3qYI/AAAAAAAAJnw/q6z83Og7RHo/s1600/00+Rhododendron+hirsutum+DSCN1827.JPG) |
Rhododendron hirsutum in its full glory - widely distributed along the rocky slopes of Čaven, but only 5 or 6 flowering bushes found yesterday. |
|
|
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ymkPgaFIcDc/U60sWrkAVSI/AAAAAAAAJoA/lKk9CmXqBUQ/s1600/00+Hladnikia+pastinacifolia+DSCN1539.JPG) |
Hladnikia pastinacifolia (Apiaceae family) a true endemic of Trnovski gozd, found only here and nowhere else in the world! Discovered in 1819 by Franc Hladnik. Note the distinctive leaves (second pic). |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J-ipY2dmkyA/U60snYNnMTI/AAAAAAAAJoQ/iqqCzfg4Dbg/s1600/00+Genista+holopetala+DSCN1818.JPG) |
Genista holopetala - another specialty of the area, in Slovenia growing only on the southern edge of Trnovski gozd. It has a Balkanic distribution, found mainly on the Velebit mountain range in Croatia. |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l8ik-gcS6fw/U60tIhVAZWI/AAAAAAAAJog/Jj1uyjjwm18/s1600/00+Scabiosa+graminifolia+DSCN1776.JPG) |
Scabiosa graminifolia - pretty abundant here. |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kTbn0K30-FM/U60tgBxrTtI/AAAAAAAAJoo/LjSQlabAjuw/s1600/00+Lilium+carniolicum+DSCN1686.JPG) |
Lilium carniolicum - found on open grassy slopes. About 10-15 of these yesterday. |
![](http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PoQAUgXOKd8/U60szcSNr5I/AAAAAAAAJoc/knkqMpmZsnU/s1600/00+Lilium+martagon+DSCN1631.JPG) |
Lilium martagon - preferring more shady places than the other two lilies. Common in beech woodland on the margins of roads. |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BdKbr5pO_hQ/U60t3MpG8uI/AAAAAAAAJo4/tm2K9vq-GvI/s1600/00+Lilium+bulbiferum+DSCN1721.JPG) |
Lilium bulbiferum - the third species of lily seen yesterday. |
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uWt1Xi1hCJk/U60uGLzRErI/AAAAAAAAJpA/1omz6HDkx9o/s1600/00+Gentiana+utriculosa+DSCN1787.JPG) |
Gentiana utriculosa |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e05987zbE58/U60uairB73I/AAAAAAAAJpQ/owpT2PFi6yw/s1600/00+Gentiana+lutea+DSCN1874.JPG) |
Gentiana lutea - one single plant already in flower (first pic); others still in development, but looking really good anyway! |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JtOnrVMxnCU/U60ujSsQUpI/AAAAAAAAJpY/eyv7oXgJsWo/s1600/00+Iris+sibirica+DSCN1892.JPG) |
Iris sibirica ssp. erirrhiza - an endemic subspecies in Slovenia. In contrast with the nominate ssp. growing on wet grounds, this one prefers dry grasslands. |
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6u4bvFeRcWA/U60urXw6hoI/AAAAAAAAJpg/skjezDx0jn0/s1600/00+Phyteuma+scheuchezeri+DSCN1556.JPG) |
Phyteuma scheuchzeri |
![](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-llY6q0XHops/U60u1Rh_tkI/AAAAAAAAJpo/63jxsWFxi6I/s1600/00+Campanula+trachelium+DSCN1911.JPG) |
Campanula trachelium |
![](http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-miYfIgU-vIM/U60vJJnQIwI/AAAAAAAAJp4/ppKRQQJz4-I/s1600/00+DSCN1850.JPG) |
Two views from Čaven (southern edge of Trnovski gozd) looking towards the Vipava valley. Mt. Nanos is visible in the distance to the left (highest top). |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UampBckQ_Ww/U60vRGA4QWI/AAAAAAAAJqA/mp_JD17KM_c/s1600/00+DSCN1733.JPG) |
Grassy-rocky slopes of Čaven, looking towards the Vipava valley and the Karst. The Adriatic sea (Gulf of Trieste) is visible far in the background to the right. |
![](http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-hvXqX6N3TcM/U60vW0SgtLI/AAAAAAAAJqI/FN8nMI1G-gs/s1600/00+DSCN1917.JPG) |
View towards the Trnovo forest |
My third ever true botanical visit to Trnovski gozd (Trnovo forest). More precisely the southern edge of the forest (Čaven and Mala Gora - 1034 to 1242 m), which is dominated by open grasslands, steep rocky slopes, cliffs and screes. An area of mix between different floras (Alpine, Balkanic, Submediterranean...) resulting in a large variety of interesting taxa, including several endemics and extremely localised species. No wonder I didn't see any birds... my look was constantly concentrated on the ground. At the end of the day I gathered a pretty long list of species, including several "dreamed of" lifers.
The only true interesting birds were 4
Lesser Grey Shrikes seen in the Vipava valley at the end of the trip.