Midland hawthorn The Fairy Tree The Midland hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata) is a tree that can grow up to 6-9 meters tall, very similar to the common hawthorn (Crataegus monogyna). Despite having long thorns and extremely hard wood, it remains a symbol of delicacy and beauty. The white flowers emit a sweet, delicate fragrance and attract pollinating insects . The round, red fruits provide winter food for birds. Did you know? Even in prehistoric times, people ate hawthorn fruits : their pits have been found in prehistoric settlements. In Celtic tradition, it is a plant associated with fairies and their abode. [...]

Common sallow The Common sallow (Salix cinerea, Salicaceae family) is a shrub or small tree that rarely exceeds 6 meters in height. The young twigs are covered with a velvety down. The leaves are oval or lanceolate, up to 10 cm long, and dull green; they are covered with hairs, much denser on the underside, giving the plant a grayish coloration. The gray willow blooms in March-April, before the leaves appear. The inflorescences offer generous amounts of nectar, an important resource collected by bees who find their first supplies of the year here. The Common sallow lives on riverbanks, in [...]

Speckled wood Camouflaged in the shadows This butterfly (scientific name Pararge aegeria, family Nymphalidae) prefers habitats such as deciduous forests and humid, shady environments. It has a wingspan of 35-45 mm, but the shape and size vary depending on whether they live in the North or South of Europe. The wings are dark brown with dark orange patterns. Due to its camouflaged colors and fast flight, the Speckled Wood butterfly easily escapes sight among patches of light. It can be found from plains up to about 1000 meters in altitude (occasionally up to 1700 meters). The adults feed on flower [...]

Common daisy The daisy of the meadows The common daisy (Bellis perennis, family Asteraceae) is a small flower found almost everywhere, from lowland meadows to high altitudes, and it blooms practically all year round. Despite its apparent fragility, it can withstand temperatures as low as -15°C . Mowed lawns are the ideal habitat for this species, which spreads rapidly to form true clouds of flower heads. The leaves, oval or spoon-shaped, are grouped in a basal rosette. The plant can reach a height of 20-60 cm and belongs to the Asteraceae family. Did you know? Its white and yellow flower [...]

Narrow-leaved Ash. The Manna Tree The narrow-leaved ash (Fraxinus angustifolia) distinguishes itself from the common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) primarily by its smaller size (reaching up to 20-25 meters in height) and less slender posture. Its habitat is Mediterranean, encompassing southeastern Europe. The flowers , inconspicuous, appear before the leaves and are grouped in panicles. Its fruits are the so-called samaras, composed of a seed wrapped in a kind of wing. The narrow-leaved ash thrives in lowland areas on moist and marshy soils, even enduring occasional water stagnation. Did you know? The narrow-leaved ash can exude a sweetish liquid, "manna" , [...]