For the Flower Hour, share your images of flowers, gardens, fields of flowers, seasonal leaves and plants, fungus, algae, cacti, blossoms, berries, and wildflowers. Bouquets and silk/faux flowers are welcome.
I almost didn’t respond to the L-A challenge this week for this Flower Hour post. But after reading a few great examples from other bloggers, I decided to use poppies as the subject to explore framing techniques across the foreground, middle ground, and background.
As many of you know, we spent 40 days on our extensive road trip through six Western states, visiting family and friends. Whenever we travel, I always look for local flowers, with The Flower Hour in mind. By the time we reached San Diego in mid-March, I knew the California poppies would be strutting their stuff.
March is poppy season in all of California, both Southern and Northern. Yes, I have countless poppy pics I’ve taken over the years still a’ bloom in my media files.
While in Sacramento, I walked a couple of miles with my friend down her rural road and was treated to lots of poppies!
These happy poppies grew close together to steal each other’s show.

“To consult the rules of composition before making a picture is a little like consulting the law of gravitation before going for a walk.” – Edward Weston
But sometimes a lone poppy can be quite compelling.

Here, the poppies try to steal the show out from under the cute wooden goat…

…Or from the weathered half-barrel in the middle ground.

The fields of poppies provided a vivid backdrop as we drove along a California Freeway.

To cap off this formidable challenge by Patti, I managed to find this old image for the Lens-Artists challenge that includes all the “grounds.” Sorry, Patti, for sharing more than three pics 😉 Back in 2019, as another windsurf season bloomed in mid-April at the Sacramento River Delta, the California poppies were showing off as usual.

This image shows the poppies in the foreground against a mid-ground of rocks, with the promise of windy waves in the background.
Also sharing for Dawn’s Spring Festival and Pepper’s One Step Challenge.

New to The Flower Hour photo challenge? Please check out my page for more information! I encourage “double-dipping” with other blog challenges if you do not want to create a separate post.
Remember, there are no specific themes for the Flower Hour, but please use your own photography. And you have all week to link to this post.
We arrived home on Easter Sunday afternoon. Whew…more about our trip over the next several posts.
A huge thank you to Cathy and Susanne for hosting Sunday Stills throughout March! Sunday Stills resumes with me with the Monthly Color Challenge: Diamonds and Quartz on April 12th!
“There are always flowers for those who want to see them!” – Henri Matisse

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