During my brief stay close to Prague (21-24.3.24) and staying with Vojtech and Zdena Holubec, I had the privilege of joining them and David Horak on a trip to Rana to enjoy a unique habitat for Adonis vernalis.

Following a short journey we arrived at a small parking spot beside a modest hill, part of a Volcanic group of hills, each with their own unique flora. A good path led to the base of the hill and followed a route through an ancient Cherry orchard managed by Nature Conservancy. Within a few minutes my walking companion, David had spotted a number of Adonis vernalis clumps at the peak of their flowering. I was naturally completely overwhelmed by their beauty, added to the fact that this was one of my favourite members of the Buttercup family, Ranunculaceae.

Having enjoyed up to 10 perfect specimens I was not prepared for what lay ahead as, not 20 or so, but many hundreds of specimens were dotted in the steep grassy terrain, competing with fierce Blackthorn, Prunus spinosa and other herbs which were all kept in tight control by conservationists managing this unique population. The path continued steeply and terminated on a rounded peak, Oblik c.a. 509 m. The views from the summit of the hill afforded some fine views of the neighbouring countryside. A steep wooded slope revealed a mass of Hepatica nobilis in its blue-coloured form beside the white form of Corydalis cava. As we descended, the steep grassy slope became a haven for further, perfect clumps of Adonis. We lay down and took many pictures of this beautiful plant.