Flowers, Sunflowers, and More Flowers! Davis, California & Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area

In my previous post, I showed you some of the amazing birds to be found in the fields and rice paddies in Yolo County near Davis, California.  And, even though it is full on, hot summer here, there are flowers growing both wild and cultivated. 

And we'll start with the sunflowers! During the summer months there are many, many cultivated sunflower fields in Yolo County.  Farms with sunflowers and big, red barns!  

This moth was having fun in the pollen too!

And there were many, many bees buzzing about as well!

I confess I did spend a bit too long driving around and visiting this sunflower farm.  That's why I ended up getting the car locked in Vic Fazio at sunset!  But it's so beautiful and peaceful among the tall flowers. 

But when I got to Vic Fazio Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area, I was very happy to see many wildflowers were blooming there as well!

I love the top edit but wanted to show what it actually looked like.  These flowers were TALL!  They actually towered over the car by about a foot. The bottom is a slightly different photo. 

The sun was starting (STARTING!) to set at this point, turning banks of flowers golden and bright.  

The play of light on different areas was so captivating.  And created some gorgeous bokeh too. 

This is one of my most favorite shots.  Possibly in my top 10(0) of all time.  A single daisy (?) in front of a gray, plowed field.  But the light turned the gray to soft purple. 

And I'm kind of particular about this lone flower peaking out of tall reeds too. 

Another one that I love love love.  

And another one!  What a magical sunset!

Such a beautiful ending to a wonderful day.  Except for getting locked in!!  hahaha  Well, all's well that ends well, and (spoiler alert)  I didn't end up sleeping in the car.  The Davis police were quite helpful in tracking down a maintenance man who came back back to let me (and the other car that came up after me) out.  

Thank you!!! 

xoxo

Sony A350

Feathers and Flowers - May 2015

Some photos taken in May of this year before and during my trip to Los Angeles. The various finches were at the start of (downtown Sacramento) and during the drive down (Rest Area on I-5) to L.A. The hibiscus photos were taken on a foggy morning in Monterey Park, CA.

Saw this beautiful little finch scrounging for food in a park.  At first, I edited the cigarette and trash out.  Then I thought a little dose of reality doesn't hurt.

Yellow hibiscus regular lens

Yellow hibiscus macro extension

macro

macro

macro

 Slight sin city affect

macro

regular

Regular lens

Extreme center focus

macro

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Regular low contrast

macro

xoxo

A Study of Yellow Asiatic Lilly After the Rain

And for good measure I'll throw in these lovely little pink flowers on hedge:

xoxo