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?
Wandering through Time and Place 