California Golden Poppies. © Copyright 2019 G Dan Mitchell – all rights reserved.
A group of California Golden Poppies, Pinnacles National Park.
California Golden Poppies are everywhere in this state — which is not surprising, given that this is the official state flower. The plant comes up every spring, eventually producing these striking flowers. They may grow in small clusters or, in a few places, they can fill entire mountainsides and valleys. They like the drier climates of the state, so they are often found in places that turn brown (or as we prefer to say, “golden”) before spring is over.
I photographed these specimens while hiking in Pinnacles National Park. The wildflowers were largely responsible for the timing of my one-day visit. (I can get there from my home in a bit more than one hour.) As I climbed the trail to the High Peaks Trail junction I passed lots of wildflowers — lupine, paintbrush, and others… and in one notable spot, a whole lot of these poppies.
G Dan Mitchell is a California photographer and visual opportunist. His book, “California’s Fall Color: A Photographer’s Guide to Autumn in the Sierra” is available from Heyday Books and Amazon.
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