Fish Drying Rack

Fish drying au natural on Flatey Island off the coast of Western Iceland.

Iceland "hot pot"

Geothermal "hot pots"  dot the Icelandic countryside.

Geothermal Steam

Impressive plumes of steam rise from the depths.  Geothermal plants harnass the energy.

Peonies in August

In our area peonies bloom in early June.

Strange bedfellows

This flower bed features a plant combination almost unimaginable in our area:  Lupines, which bloom in our area in June, paired with Eryngium (Sea Holly), which likes the heat of summer.

Geothermal Steam

Steam rising from the ground near Geyser in Iceland's "Golden Circle." 

Strokkur geyser

Strokkur, one of Iceland's most famous geysers, shows off to rapt visitors in the "Golden Circle" area outside of Reykjavik. 

Gullfoss Waterfall

One of many astonishingly beautiful Icelandic waterfalls, Gulfoss is one of the most visited sites in the country.

Gullfoss Waterfall

Icelanders don't like to be fenced in--even for their own safety.  There were almost no protective fences or railings at tourist attractions and, as this photo shows, no prohibitions from getting very up-close and personal with nature.

The Crater Kerio

One of many spectacular water-filled volcanic craters in Iceland.

Colors of Iceland

While some Icelandic landscapes were starkly monochromatic, others like this hillside radiated rich and unexpected color. 

Solheimajokull glacier from a distance

This almost lunar landscape shows the Solheimajokull glacier which, like most Arctic ice sheets, is receding at an alarming rate.

On Solheimajokull

Our intrepid group literally trekked--donning crampons and ice axes!--on Solheimajokull in the care of an excellent guide.  Note the black ash covering the ice; it was deposited by the eruption of the now-famous (and still unpronouncable) volcano Eyjafjallajokull last year.

Georgia O'Keefe on Solheimajokull?

Glacial crevasse.  You see why we had crampons and ice axes. . . It's a long way down!

Botanical Garden in Akureyri 3

We're all familiar with the cheerful  red and pink annual geraniums of summer (pelargonium), but this planting features blue perennial geraniums, which are generally finished blooming in our area by early July; in Iceland, they're in their first flush of bloom in mid-August.  A beautiful sight!

Dazzling Delphiniums

Here's another shot of those delectable delphis!

Botanical Garden in Akureyri 01

I've always prided myself on growing handsome Delphinium in my South Salem garden.  I'm humbled.  The size, the vigor, and the depth of color of these Icelandic beauties--in August, no less!--was almost unfathomable.  I felt as though I was in Wonderland.

Holy Grail Plant!

Here it is again, folks!  That "holy grail" plant, the Himalayan Blue Poppy.  For Glog fans, see my earlier post about this fabulous plant.  Even in Quebec, this poppy blooms in early July, so I was shocked to see it flowering in Iceland in mid-August.

The Glogger Hard at Work

botanical garden in akureyri 2

The sheer number of species blooming simultaneously--and in August!--is amazing.  Note the Iris in the foreground.  They're early summer bloomers in our area.