Eco-trail - The kingdom of Strandzha periwinkle
It is the month of May and it is the time when a very interesting plant blooms in my homeland - the Strandzha periwinkle (Rhododendron ponticum).
Preserved since the Tertiary period, it has survived only in two places in Europe - in the Strandzha Mountains and in the Caucasus. It also exists in other places, but as a different subspecies.
It is not found everywhere in Strandzha. It is most abundant around the villages of Kondolovo, Kosti and Bulgari, and that is why this year my friends and I decided to organize ourselves and go see it.
We chose the route around the village of Kondolovo, where there is an eco-trail called "In the Kingdom of periwinkle".
The trail begins about 100 meters north of the village of Kondolovo. There are many signposts and markings along the way.
Along the way, we enjoyed the unique vegetation characteristic of this region.
The centuries-old trees and the unique moss spreading everywhere were majestic.
I saw interesting mushrooms on the trees.
There is a fork in the path to the St. Panteleimon chapel and we headed there.
The small chapel was located near the river and was clogged with leaves, which we cleaned up and the water flowed to the river.
We returned to the main trail to continue exploring the diverse plant species that grow in this area, which the educational signs told us about. Many plant species, and of the trees - oaks, eastern beech, eastern hornbeam, etc.
The deeper we went into the forest, the more Strandzha periwinkle we saw.
The trail was full of resting spots and observation points.
We also took a break in such a place.
The eco-trail crosses a Murzeliv dol in several places, after which there is a climb along a path where Strandzha periwinkle was in even greater abundance.
My friends and I truly enjoyed the views of this unique plant.
The length of the trail is about 4.5 km and is extremely easy and pleasant to hike. It had rained very heavily the day before, but it was not muddy.
If you have a way there, be sure to take a walk, especially at this time of year - during the months of May and June when the periwinkle is in bloom.
sourses: bgflora.net, tripsjournal.com
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STOPEverything here is impressive. I love the beauty of nature. The flowers are beautiful. The dimensions of the pictures make you want to be there.
A charm, wonderful.
Thank you for your kind comment. I'm glad you like my photos from this unique place 🙏
@vesytz The Strandzha periwinkle eco-trail sounds like a botanical treasure! The Rhododendron ponticum, a relic from millions of years ago, is fascinating, and the vibrant periwinkle blooms must be a sight in May or June. I’m curious about other unique plants along the trail, any rare orchids or ferns? The details about the trail’s signs and rest areas make it seem so accessible. Your post captures the essence of Kondolovo’s natural beauty perfectly, and the photos are stunning! Thanks for sharing this hidden gem of Bulgaria.
There were no orchids on the trail, but there were plenty of ferns, and there are more plants that are just starting to bloom. The trail will surely reveal more botanical treasures in other months as well. I'm glad you like it! Thank you 🙏
Beautiful nature. Very impressive shots, I would call it a creative way of presenting the trail. Real pleasure to read and enjoy the pictures. 👍👏
Thank you very much @krk101 🙏
The Strandzha periwinkle is such a rare beauty, and to witness it thriving in the wild after so many centuries is a true gift. The act of cleaning up around the chapel to help restore its flow shows such a deep respect for the environment. It’s wonderful that you and your friends made a positive impact during your adventure.
In such a unique place one can feel a deep respect ❤️. I am glad the place touched you 🙏
I'm so glad it left such a mark on you. 🩷 Have a wonderful day!
Wow I'm star struck by the beauty of the flowers. I really love flowers a lot and I can't resist buying some or even picking some of it when I see one. That Strandzha periwinkle is really beautiful and I never seen one in person. I hope I got to see one one day. But as it only survived in Strandzha Mountains and in the Caucasus, I hope to visit it in the future 🤍
I wish you have the opportunity to see Strandzha periwinkle in the future 🤗
Beautiful emerald forest! These purple flowers are very pretty. I wonder if I could grow them in my garden!
In order for Strandzha periwinkle to thrive, it needs precisely defined conditions - such as those provided by the place where it is currently growing. The plant is really very beautiful 😍👍