Goat decor and poppies
Terri Webster Schrandt

The Flower Hour #25: POP Go the Poppies

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.

orange poppies

“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.

orange Poppy unfurling

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

Goat decor and poppies

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

California Poppies


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

Southern California super bloom
Southern California super bloom

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.

Poppies rocks and sea water

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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19 comments

  7. Poppies are one of my favourite flowers. I am aiming for a seas of them this summer, in many different colours. When I collected poppy seeds last summer I mixed orange, red, burgundy and purple seeds in the same jar.

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  11. Wow! Wow! Wow!
    You have incredible images of the beloved poppies! We have them here in AZ as well. They are such a beautiful wildflower.
    Once again, you have blown me away!
    💛🥰💛

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  17. This is a beautifully vibrant and engaging post that celebrates both the art of photography and the joy of travel. Your love for poppies shines through every line, and the way you’ve woven your road trip memories into the narrative adds a personal and heartfelt touch.

    What truly stands out is your thoughtful exploration of composition—foreground, middle ground, and background—presented so naturally through your images and reflections. It never feels technical; instead, it feels like an invitation to see more deeply.

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