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The word "Deciduous" means "trees with leaves falling off or out at a certain season". This is why in April, all trees had pale green leaves just coming out. The type of deciduous forest found in many part of Georgia is named Colchian forest. It is characterized by a variety of trees but here around Shuamta monastery, I noticed mostly Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa), hornbeam (Carpinus betulus) and Oriental Beech (Fagus orientalis). There might be also Sweet Chestnut (Castanea sativa), but I did not found any.
Colchian forests have a high rainfall and small plants are growing under the shelter of the trees. As the season was early, I found only (photo 2) a carpet of Cardamine pratensis (wild Lady's Smock) but later there should be primroses (Primula spp) and violets (Viola spp)
Updated Nov 13, 2011
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In Greece, each monastery makes its own wine, kept in amphorae. Though there are no monks anymore in Dzveli Shuamta, empty amphorae are still leaning on the ground close to the churches. Though, as Dzveli Shuamta is surrounded by forest, I wonder where they could possibly grow vine.
Written Nov 13, 2011
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All of a sudden a pale sun pierced through the thin haze, just when arrived a full makrushka load of Greek worshipers that we had already seen in Ikalto. That brought some color to the sight and the landscape was not a fairy tale décor anymore!
Written Nov 13, 2011
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After the grid, a narrow meadow surrounded on both sides by the forest leads after 200 meters to the buildings of the monastery. There are three churches but at first only two show in the haze (photo 1).
Photo 2 and 3 show the church on the right.
Written Nov 13, 2011
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On arrival at Dzveli Shuamta (old Shuamta) monastery, the hazy forest makes the landscape unreal and looking almost like a fairy tale décor. Behind the grid, are we going to find the Sleeping Beauty’s castle or Bluebeard’s mansion?
Written Nov 13, 2011
In the neighborhood of Telavi, the monasteries of Dzveli Shuamta and Akhali Shuamta are a must see. Shuamta (or Shuamt’a, or Chuamta) means “between mountains”. The monastery of Dzveli Shuamta (old...
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