Poppy
Prickly Poppy
This was a delightful find! This is a prickly poppy. I didn’t know this type of flower existed until I found this one by happenstance.
On our recent trip to Custer State Park in South Dakota, we had pulled over in the area of a small prairie dog town. As I was trying to get some good photos of the prairie dogs, I noticed this white flower. It was the only one in that area. I believe I found this particular bloom at its peak. We have poppies at our home in northeast Wisconsin but they are the large, redish-orange variety that have a very short blooming period in early spring. Finding this delicate white flower on a prickly plant blooming in late summer was a nice surprise.
From the little I was able to find online, the prickly poppy is a beautiful wildflower that lives for only one growing season. It grows naturally in sandy, dry areas. New plants grow from seed produced the previous year. The papery white flowers bloom throughout the summer. The plant has blue-green leaves and the stems are covered with sharp spines.
You can get a better view of the details in this flower image by clicking on the photo.
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Poppin’ Fresh
This is the first poppy bloom of our 2023 spring. My wife has a small patch of poppies in a flower bed next to our house. Every year they produce a beautiful, but short-lived display of bright orange blossoms. (It dropped its petals within 3 days.)
To view a larger, full screen version of this image, click on the photo. The detail of the flower’s center is well worth the click.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Orange Poppy Down
One of the aspects I enjoy with photography is capturing different perspectives. This is an orange poppy that was drenched by an early morning rain. The rain pushed the bloom downward, leaving some moisture on the delicate, paper-like petals.
We have a few poppy plants in a flower bed next to our house that bloom every spring. The bloom doesn’t last nearly enough but they are quite lovely while they are showing. I’ve taken a lot of poppy picture over the years, but none quite like this. I particularly like the contrasting colors of vivid orange and green and the different perspective of this photo.
I encourage you to click on the photo to view a larger, more detailed version. It will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
The Color Poppy
The poppy is one of the most vibrant, delicate and interesting blossoms of spring. Sadly, it is a short lived beauty. Our small supply of poppies have been brutalized by the strong winds we’ve had lately. This photo was taken a week ago.
You can view a larger, more detailed version of this photo by clicking on it. When you do, a full-screen image will open in a new browser tab.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Flowing Focus
After a light spring rain, I photographed the back side of a freshly bloomed poppy. The water droplets were the point of interest to me.
When I opened the image up on my computer for processing, I thought a monochrome version held more promise. The full-color version was nice, but this one seemed to draw me in more.
If you click on this photo, you will get a larger, more detailed look.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me (pops@popsdigital.com) for digital purchase and licensing options.
Flourish of Gray
This is a close-up look at the center of a poppy. The tissue-paper-like texture of the poppy petals make an interesting frame for the flower’s center.
This bloom started as a very bright red. I decided to take a different turn and make it a black and white image.
To view a larger version of this image, click on the photo.
Poppy Buds
Flowing Silk Linens
This is a simple, yet elegant, poppy bloom from the flower bed near our back door. The petals reminded me of linens on a clothes line, flowing under the influence of a warm summer breeze.
It’s original color was the typical poppy red, but I decided to process it as a monochrome image. I love the subtle variations in tone and texture that are not as noticeable with the color version.
To get a view at a larger version, click on the image.
Glamour Red
Twirling Floral Skirt
Beside my wife’s flower bed, sprouting from a crack in the sidewalk, we have a cluster of sweet, tiny, pink poppies that appeared on their own.
I took this photo in the early morning hours. I call it Twirling Floral Skirt because it reminds me of a young girl spinning around to make her skirt flow out.
To see it better, click on the image and a larger version will open another tab in your browser.
All of the photos I post are available for purchase. If you’d like to buy one, click on the blue “Buy this Online” bar below for a variety of print and frame options or contact me for digital purchase and licensing options.