Aquilegia vulgaris - Ancolie commune - Common Columbine

This is a toxic plant!

 Be careful because at my house it grows in my veggie garden, so be aware that not everything that grows or is eaten by wild animals or even domestic animals is good for human consumption.

I like the back trumpet shapes in the petals (technically called spurred petals)!

It is this claw shape that has given it its name 'aquila' is Latin for eagle.

 It is definitely tooting its horn!

It produces a lot of seeds, so it is impossible to get out of a veggie garden. 

It attracts bumblebees and I love to watch their furry bodies inside them. 

The openings are not adequately shaped for our honey bees, so they actually pierce the back trumpets to get to the nectar! Isn't nature cool?

Orchis ustulata - Orchis brûlée - Dark-winged Orchis

One of the many local wild orchids one can find in the Alps.

Two little burnt tips sticking out of an alpine cow pasture! 

They must be why the Swiss Bagnes Cheeses are so yummie!

Astrantia major - Grande astrance - Big Masterwort

This flower has such a weird, and somewhat ghoulish name that makes me think it comes out of  a Tolken book like The Hobbit : Master Wort!!

Regardless of its name, it is absolutely stunning. I have seen quite often, at least every summer. 

Here is a close up of the flower heads. I love how it is green, white, pink all at the same time.