The Javorniki's forests are most colourful in spring. After the snow melts and beeches just begin to turn green, the ground is covered by different kinds of undergrowth. Small yellow-flowered spring bloomer and Christmas rose, vernacularly called slepica, are accompanied by liverleaf, snowdrop, spring snowflake, different bittercresses, spring pea, vetch Vicia oroboides and blue-eyed Mary. Wherever we look, there's something blossoming.
Soon, bushes will bloom as well: February daphne, spurge-laurel, fly honeysuckle, barberry, berry Rhamus fallax Boiss, European bladdernut...
Forest orchids are not as endangered as their meadow counterparts, but they are no less intriguing. The first ones to blossom are common twayblade, white helleborine and bird's nest orchid, followed by lesser butterfly and greater butterfly orchid, fragrant orchid and broad-leaved helleborine. A persistent and observant visitor may also come across the rare Greuter's, violet and narrow-lipped helleborine.
In summer, the native Justin's bellflower, shapely candytuft, boneset, wood ragwort, beautiful Turk's cap lily, gentle knotted crane's bill, field and Alpine rose, willow gentian, red campion and large-flowered calamint open their flowers. A feast for the eye and insects that doesn't seem to end any time soon.
A hike in the Javorniki hills, coloured with warm autumn tints, when beeches, sycamore and field maples, wych elms, common ashes, rowans and whitebeams turn yellow, will bring a smile to every visitor's face.
Due to inaccessibility and sustainable management, well-preserved Javorniki forests are inhabited by all three large predators that live in Slovenia! While cautious wolves and shy lynxes persistently avoid the human eye, encounters with bears are more or less an everyday thing...
Due to inaccessibility and sustainable forest management, the well-preserved Javorniki forests are inhabited by all three large predators that live in Slovenia! While cautious wolves and shy lynxes persistently avoid the human eye, encounters with bears are more or less an everyday thing...
Slopes, plains, forests and vineyards of the Notranjska Regional Park provide a home to many species. Here, among the multitude of widely distributed, yet no less beautiful flowers, thrive 'carnivores', rare, endangered, protected and endemic species.
Slopes, plains, forests and vineyards of the Notranjska Regional Park provide a home to many species. Here, among the multitude of widely distributed, yet no less beautiful flowers, thrive 'carnivores', rare, endangered, protected and endemic species.
