Poppies, Hite's Cove Trail
On the way up to Yosemite Valley yesterday my wife and I scouted the flowers in the Merced River Canyon. After a week of warm weather I expected to see more poppies, but they were blooming in the same places, in about the same quantities, as last Sunday. In fact it looked like the hills were starting to dry out, and the poppy season is nearing its end.
We hiked the first half-mile of the Hite’s Cove trail, and found nice mixes of poppies and tri-colored gilia. We ran into several photographers we know—surprise, surprise—and I made some photographs, mostly close-ups of backlit poppies.
While I’m spoiled after last year’s spectacular bloom, this year is below average even by normal standards. I didn’t really believe the map that I linked to in my post from March 9th, which showed below-average precipitation in the Merced River Canyon, since all the surrounding areas are above average. But maybe it’s true.
Elsewhere things are heating up, with reports of flowers coming in from the hills around the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley and near the Carizzo Plain, although Anza-Borrego is apparently disappointing. See that post from March 9th for some links to these reports. Keep in mind that what looks like a great bloom to one person may appear ho-hum to another, and a great variety of flowers does not necessarily mean thick enough carpets for landscape photographs. Personally I’m most interested in dense blooms that have a mix of different colors—rare events, to be sure.
Tags: Landscape Photography, Michael Frye, Photography, Wildflowers
thanks for the update Michael. I love your posted close up. Your work continues to inspire me.
I drove up Merced canyon Thursday and, not having read any earlier post, assumed that the flower season hadn’t kicked into gear yet. I will make a point to go up the Hite’s Cove trail this week.
I saw lots of Fiddlenecks and patches of a white flower. What are the white ones?
As always, thanks for keeping me (and the rest of your readers) informed of photographic opportunities!
Thanks Tony!
Kirk, I’m not sure what the white flowers were — possibly popcorn flowers. Where did you see them?
This has been a good year for fiddlenecks out in the foothills south and west of Mariposa, on Old Highway 41 and White Rock Road. It’s lovely and green out there, too! Oak trees should be putting out leaves soon, if they haven’t already.
RE: White flowers – I saw them all the way up 140; from the beginning of the foothills all the way into Merced Canyon. There were large patches in some places. I’m thinking that they’re popcorn flowers as well, but couldn’t tell from my car and didn’t want to assume anything since I’m a newcomer to the Sierra Foothills. I am going to Hite’s cove today to check out the flower scene.