Читать книгу Walking in the Cevennes. 31 walks and the Tour of Mont Lozere онлайн

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On the summit of the Rochers de la Tude (Walk 4) are stately asphodel lilies and tall white heather in May. Here the difference in vegetation between the northern and southern slopes is quite marked – the south smelling of herbs and creamy rock roses, while the north is colder, with species of orchids, the charming blue columbines (aquilegia) and, lower down, the yellow laburnum trees.

Up to an altitude of 1000m the Mont Aigoual is covered in trees (see Introduction, ‘Southern Cevennes’, for an explanation of the reforesting of the area). It is a young forest consisting of pines and beech, and is often rather dark; this prohibits the growth of many varieties of flowers, with the exception of the white wood anemones which cover the slopes in early spring while the trees are still in bud. However, in the open glades you can find different species of crane-bill, amongst others, and the beautiful pink martagon lily which flowers in July. In a boggy area on the Cascades d’Orgon walk (Walk 16) the author was excited to see for the first time fragile looking, hairy-stemmed orange tulips. There is also a species which is rare outside the high Cevennes, called Arabette des Cevennes, which looks rather like a species of sweet pea. It flowers in the summer on riverbanks.