A California poppy. Always beautiful. This was early morning before it had opened up.
The American River flows right through the heart of Sacramento, California and is one of the community’s greatest assets. I spent a lot of time there when I lived and worked in the city. It was where I escaped to when I needed a touch of the wild, which was often. It was a rare week when I didn’t hike of bike there at least once. And there were times when I was there almost every day. Later, when I became interested in photography, I often carried a camera. There were birds and ducks and geese and jackrabbits and cottontails and turkeys and deer and foxes and coyotes and skunks and raccoons and otters and squirrels, and rattlesnakes (on my) to photograph.
And there were flowers. Fields and fields of them. Enjoy. Happy Valentine’s Day!
Scottish broom. It’s a weed plant, so they say. Crowds out the more sensitive natives. But I can sure understand why people wanted to plant it.Some early pioneer had planted Iris here. He’s long forgotten but his flowers live on. A fitting tribute.Pioneers left behind fruit trees that still bloom on the parkway as well.More fruit tree blossoms.Here’s a native. Do you know what it is? it’s a buckeye. Eventually these flowers will turn into a beautiful brown, nutlike fruit.This little jewel is a wild grape.Not a clue here, but I like it’s whirly petals. Any ideas?While I’m on clueless, here’s another example. But wow!More poppies!A member of the sunflower family for sure.Bull thistles would make a pretty bouquet, but your sweetie best have a sense of humor.I am thinking evening primrose here, but I could be wrong.One of my all-time favorites but you definitely don’t want to give it to your sweetheart. Jimson weed is poisonous…But it sure is pretty, This one is just opening up.Be it ever so humble— the common blackberry. Great fruit!A blue elderberry.Flowers on a black locust tree.And for fun, I’ll close today with this strange fellow, Dutchman’s pipe!
MONDAY’S POST: We are going to visit the Devil’s Kitchen. Are you ready?
They are absolutely gorgeous, all of them. I wonder which nes yu would have
picked for Peggy. I agree that the Thistld is pretty but maybe not the right thing.😊.
What surprises me is how many I recognise in spite of such different climate.
The single poppy, Miriam, and then maybe the sunflower. 🙂 But she would be pleased with many of the others. I’ll ask her.
Thistles intrigue me. They have beauty but also a strong message of don’t touch me.
Not too surprised with the familiarity. So many of our plants share a common heritage and many of the plants here were brought over by Europeans, hungry for a touch of home. Thanks much! –Curt
I see Jimson weed growing on the hiking trails around here a lot. I didn’t realize it was poisonous! And you know what? You take some really nice pictures of flowers!!
Thanks on the flowers, MB. Glad you enjoyed them. As for Jimson Weed, there is a story given that you are an historian. Way back in the early history of Jamestown (thus the name), a group of English soldiers came to town with less than honorable intentions. The locals slipped some of the weed into their salad and for the next several days the soldiers sat around on the floor naked, doing really strange things. 🙂 It was also important to the shamans of the Native American tribes of the Southwest in terms of their visions. I’ll be doing a post on that. –Curt
How very interesting! I will be looking forward to that post!
Should be in the next couple of weeks. 🙂
That is a primrose, though I don’t know the variety. But I must say — I’ve never seen anything like that white, propeller-like flower. It reminds me of the toy pinwheels we had when I was a kid. They’re all beautiful — especially Georgia O’Keeffe’s jimson weed.
That was my first (and last time for the propeller flower myself, Linda). Maybe if I google propeller flower. 🙂 As for Jimson Weed, it is in a class by itself. Interesting note on Georgia. She had them planted in her yard at Abiquiu until she discovered how poisonous they were. Then she had them pulled up. I’ll be revisiting the plant when I do my post on petroglyphs since they were what gave many of the shamans of the Southwest their visions. –Curt
Way back in my pipe smoking days, Gerard, I had a calabash pipe that was similar. It was pretty funny. But you couldn’t have convinced me of that at the time. I thought I was rather sophisticated and suave. (grin)
And yes, the Dutchman’s pipe does catch bugs if I remember correctly. –Curt
Love the shot of the buckwheat and the poppies are distinct favorites. It’s nearly impossible to catch the glow they give off in the sunshine. I don’t have a clue about the whirly petals. (not at all good at flower ID), but they sure are pretty and unique.
My favorite memory of flowers along the American River is the very first time I spotted a trillium during a hike up in the El Dorado NF. It was the big ones with the dark purple petals. Utterly gorgeous… I have a couple of shots of it SOMEWHERE…??
That ‘somewhere’ can be a challenge! Tell me about it with 90,000 photos. At least Apple photo organizes them by date, which helps. For example, I found trilliums when I backpacked in the Red Butte area. Since I can pin that date down, I can find my trilliums.
The early morning poppy has always been a favorite of mine. No one has suggested a nam for the whirly flower yet. –Curt
All very pretty, Curt. I’m partial to the fruit tree flowers. Despite climbing many a buckeye tree growing up (all over my grandma’s yard), I would have never remembered (or maybe even known) that they flower in any way!
The buckeye flowers are spectacular, Lexi. I should have shown the whole tree. I suspect you may have been climbing the tree when it wasn’t blooming. –Curt
Wandering through Time and Place 
All beautiful, Curt, but the Dutchman’s pipe always makes me smile – to me it looks like a snail. 🙂
A snail? Now there’s a new one for me G. 🙂 But looking at it, I can see the resemblance. Thanks. –Curt
They are absolutely gorgeous, all of them. I wonder which nes yu would have
picked for Peggy. I agree that the Thistld is pretty but maybe not the right thing.😊.
What surprises me is how many I recognise in spite of such different climate.
Wonderful post, thank you.
Miriam
The single poppy, Miriam, and then maybe the sunflower. 🙂 But she would be pleased with many of the others. I’ll ask her.
Thistles intrigue me. They have beauty but also a strong message of don’t touch me.
Not too surprised with the familiarity. So many of our plants share a common heritage and many of the plants here were brought over by Europeans, hungry for a touch of home. Thanks much! –Curt
Great pics. Like GP Cox, the Dutchman’s pipe makes me smile.
Thanks Peggy! I have a lot of photos of that plant. Never could get enough. –Curt
I see Jimson weed growing on the hiking trails around here a lot. I didn’t realize it was poisonous! And you know what? You take some really nice pictures of flowers!!
Thanks on the flowers, MB. Glad you enjoyed them. As for Jimson Weed, there is a story given that you are an historian. Way back in the early history of Jamestown (thus the name), a group of English soldiers came to town with less than honorable intentions. The locals slipped some of the weed into their salad and for the next several days the soldiers sat around on the floor naked, doing really strange things. 🙂 It was also important to the shamans of the Native American tribes of the Southwest in terms of their visions. I’ll be doing a post on that. –Curt
How very interesting! I will be looking forward to that post!
Should be in the next couple of weeks. 🙂
That is a primrose, though I don’t know the variety. But I must say — I’ve never seen anything like that white, propeller-like flower. It reminds me of the toy pinwheels we had when I was a kid. They’re all beautiful — especially Georgia O’Keeffe’s jimson weed.
That was my first (and last time for the propeller flower myself, Linda). Maybe if I google propeller flower. 🙂 As for Jimson Weed, it is in a class by itself. Interesting note on Georgia. She had them planted in her yard at Abiquiu until she discovered how poisonous they were. Then she had them pulled up. I’ll be revisiting the plant when I do my post on petroglyphs since they were what gave many of the shamans of the Southwest their visions. –Curt
These are just amazing. Really lovely. ( also love the jimson weed )
Well thanks, Sylvia. 🙂 Jimson weed is a beauty. There’s a reason why Georgia O’Keeffe liked to paint it! –Curt
Your photographs of flowers are beautiful. I’m a budding (pun intended) photographer myself. What kind of camera are you using.
Thank you Linda. Much appreciated. I move back and forth between a Canon Rebel and a Canon Powershot. Good luck with your photography. –Curt
I laughed at Dutchman’s pipe. It looks ready to catch an insect and wonder if it is carnivorous?
Way back in my pipe smoking days, Gerard, I had a calabash pipe that was similar. It was pretty funny. But you couldn’t have convinced me of that at the time. I thought I was rather sophisticated and suave. (grin)
And yes, the Dutchman’s pipe does catch bugs if I remember correctly. –Curt
Love the shot of the buckwheat and the poppies are distinct favorites. It’s nearly impossible to catch the glow they give off in the sunshine. I don’t have a clue about the whirly petals. (not at all good at flower ID), but they sure are pretty and unique.
My favorite memory of flowers along the American River is the very first time I spotted a trillium during a hike up in the El Dorado NF. It was the big ones with the dark purple petals. Utterly gorgeous… I have a couple of shots of it SOMEWHERE…??
That ‘somewhere’ can be a challenge! Tell me about it with 90,000 photos. At least Apple photo organizes them by date, which helps. For example, I found trilliums when I backpacked in the Red Butte area. Since I can pin that date down, I can find my trilliums.
The early morning poppy has always been a favorite of mine. No one has suggested a nam for the whirly flower yet. –Curt
Gorgeous.
Thanks, Cynthia. 🙂 –Curt
Cool! I’ve never seen a buckeye! Beautiful photos.
First, thanks Kelly. Second, a mere 5000 feet below your home at Lake Tahoe! –Curt
All very pretty, Curt. I’m partial to the fruit tree flowers. Despite climbing many a buckeye tree growing up (all over my grandma’s yard), I would have never remembered (or maybe even known) that they flower in any way!
The buckeye flowers are spectacular, Lexi. I should have shown the whole tree. I suspect you may have been climbing the tree when it wasn’t blooming. –Curt
Let’s hear it for flower power! (And yes, the wind does like to come up when you’re getting really close…)