Summer before the season starts

As many of you are on holidays at the seaside at the moment let me take some of your time to show you my version of summer holidays before season started. Going to the seaside on island Šolta near Split in Croatia more than a month before season at the end of May meant one thing. Everything was not yet burned by the hot summer. I never saw so much blooming plants and various animals at the sea before. You can see some of the rich flora and fauna on the photos below.

2011 05 21 Solta D2N 5529

Clouds prevented the sun to burn everything and let me breathe easier.

2011 05 21 Solta D2N 5575

Seagulls were playing over the ferry as we traveled to the island Šolta. They were so close that I didn't have to use telephoto lens but just plain 50 mm one.

2011 05 21 Solta D2N 5594

2011 05 22 Solta D2N 5624

Sand lizards (Lacerta agilis) mating. They didn't mind me watching.

2011 05 22 Solta D2N 5661

Cardinal (Argynnis pandora)

2011 05 22 Solta D2N 5667

The Cardinal was very trustworthy.

2011 05 22 Solta D2N 5679

I have never seen Carpobrotus (commonly known as Pigface or Ice plants) bloom. It is a ground-creeping plant, with succulent leaves which are mainly dried by the time I used to see them in the summer.

2011 05 22 Solta D2N 5682

This time they were blooming and I seriously played with the idea to take some of them home with me.

2011 05 22 Solta D2N 5717

This one kind of look like a little devil.

2011 05 22 Solta D2N 5692

More Sand lizards (Lacerta agilis). Color green means it is the mating season.

2011 05 22 Solta D2N 5698

Poppy (Papaver) is another plant I never saw on the islands before.

2011 05 22 Solta D2N 5708

2011 05 22 Solta D2N 5725

Aloe vera blooming

2011 05 22 Solta D2N 5736

2011 05 22 Solta D2N 5743

Even trees like this Pine tree were different.

2011 05 22 Solta D2N 5741

Some of the plants were unknown to me but they were beautiful all the same.

2011 05 23 Solta D2N 5847

The bees were doing their job pollinating the plants before they stop blooming.

2011 05 29 Solta D2N 6799

I have seen Stick insects (Phasmatodea) in captivity but never before in the wild.

2011 05 24 Solta D2N 5931

Even the lemons were not the same. This one is called Buddha's hand, Citrus medica.

2011 05 24 Solta D2N 5950

2011 05 31 Solta D2N 6943

Date palms (Phoenix dactylifera) were full of dates which were unfortunately not edible.

2011 05 31 Solta D2N 6944

When I said full of dates I meant full of dates.

2011 05 31 Solta D2N 7106

(Mytilus galloprovincialis) Mediterranean mussel

2011 05 31 Solta D2N 7124  Version 2

Opuntia and its pollinating friend

2011 05 31 Solta D2N 7137

Its a big black bee with blue wings, latin name unknown.

2011 05 31 Solta D2N 7144

Beautiful but toxic Nerium oleander

2011 05 31 Solta IMG 5343

(Sicyonia carinata) Mediterranean rock shrimp almost bite my finger off.

2011 06 01 Solta D2N 7182

Even ordinarily snails came out while raining.

2011 06 01 Solta D2N 7248

So beautiful it doesn't need a name.

2011 06 01 Solta D2N 7255

Lavender (Lavandula) attracted many bumble bees.

2011 06 02 Solta D2N 7272

Large wasp with four yellow dots and orange head. It could be Scoliid wasp but who am I to tell them apart.

2011 06 02 Solta D2N 7286

They said it was not poisonous. I felt better believed them.

2011 06 02 Solta D2N 7277

Caring for the young ones.

2011 06 02 Solta D2N 7401

Another Opuntia this time in the sunset light.

2011 05 23 Solta D2N 5872

One of many terrific sunsets.

2011 05 24 Solta D2N 6157

Orange, how I want you orange.

2011 05 28 Solta D2N 6690

2011 06 03 Solta D2N 7493

Last night presented another terrific sight. Summer thunder storm. This phenomenon is actually more frequent later in the summer.

It is true that the water wasn’t warm enough for prolonged swimming in the sea but going to the seaside before the season definitely has its advantages.

I am sorry for all the mistakes that I made naming flora and fauna. If you know the correct names please let me know so that I can correct my errors.