Looking up to Pena Telera and the cliffs of the Sierra de Partacua

The mountains of the Valle de Tena are looking beautiful and bursting into life. Spring gentians, trumpet gentians and elder flowered orchids are covering the sunnier meadows around Ibon de Piedrafita and above the village of Sandinies.

Trumpet Gentians in the Pyrenees

Wild cherry trees in blossom in the Pyrenees

Elder flowered orchids are the most common in the Pyrenees. These like the high meadows – particularly in the Valle de Tena around Formigal and Sallent de Gallego. Elder flowered orchids either have purple or yellow flowers – both types are the same species. A few early purple orchids are also out.

Elder flowered orchid (dactylorhiza sambucina) – common in the Pyrenees