International Dendrology Society trip – day two

Leaving Tbilisi and climbing into the mountains this morning seemed to take no time at all.

Instead of buildings we are soon passing rows of Juglans regia (common walnut) Cotinus coggygria and Cercis siliquastrum, and the near constant scene of men standing by Ladas brimming with watermelons for sale.

Our first stop to study plants couldn't have been better. A stunning meadow at 1500 metres is a riot of colours and butterflies. Near the Gombori pass in the Kakheti region of north-east Georgia, we also find Quercus macranthera (Caucasian Oak), Eleagnus angustifolia and Malus orientalis.

Winding down the mountain roads, avoiding the multiple road collapses, we stop at a pure Carpinus (hornbeam) forest, both Carpinus betulus and Carpinus orientalis were to be found and the smooth silver stems en mass with the bare forest floor made for quite a picture.

We ate lunch out amongst a valley of Quercus iberica and more Carpinus betulus before arriving at our 'home-stay' accomodation in the town of Telavi at the foot of the higher Caucasus.