Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: the color orange

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Today I’m participating in Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge and her theme is “the color orange”. I encourage you to click on each photo to see a larger view. If you like what you see, please subscribe to this blog to receive updates of the new photos I post, usually 3 to 5 times a week.

I photographed these bright orange California poppies yesterday and I thought they would be a great match for this week’s colorful theme.

Orange poppies are the official state flower of California. You can see them on the side of many freeways as you drive. The ones I saw yesterday are a cultivated type of orange poppy, and a little different from the native state flower. They bloom in the late winter and don’t last long so it’s a great idea to snap a few photos while you can.

I hope you enjoy this burst of orange today.

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: the color orange - California poppies
Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: the color orange – California poppies
Orange poppy flower
Orange poppy flower
Close-up of an orange poppy bloom
Close-up of an orange poppy bloom
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Let’s Be Wild Weekly Photo Challenge – Spring

Zazzle online shop If you enjoy my photos and would like to purchase some, I want to thank you! Simply visit my Zazzle online shop and browse the product offerings. If there’s a photo you would like to purchase but don’t see it in my shop, please contact me by using the Contact form at the bottom of my home page and let me know which photos you are interested in purchasing, and in what format / medium.

I’m participating in the online adventure travel and photography magazine LetsBeWild.com’s Wild Weekly Photo Challenge for bloggers. This week’s Challenge is: Spring.

Spring happens a little differently in San Diego. The early signs of spring come very early, usually by the end of February, and by the time the end of May is here, everything turns yellow and brown from the hot sun rays. As a sign of renewal and rebirth, spring is my favorite season. Here are a few photos of what spring in San Diego looks like to me. Remember you can click on each photo to see a larger image.

I was lucky to be picked as an honorable mention winner for my photo of California poppies for this challenge.

Blue skies and colorful flowers are common in the spring.

Photo of colorful California wildflowers
Photo of colorful California wildflowers

I love the many California poppies we see all over.

California wildflowers - poppies
California wildflowers – poppies

Ramona lilac is a local plant and it features beautiful, but unscented, clusters of small lilac blooms.

Lilac blooms in Ramona, California
Lilac blooms in Ramona, California

California wildflowers grow just about anywhere they can find some water.

California wildflower blooms
California wildflower blooms

This lupine bloom was standing on its own in a local park. I love the color purple that comes with spring.

California lupine at San Diego Mission Trails Regional Park
California lupine at San Diego Mission Trails Regional Park

These pear blossoms start early at San Diego’s Balboa Park, usually by early February. You can view more photos of these ornamental pear blossoms here.

Close-up of the pear blossoms in Balboa Park
Close-up of the pear blossoms in Balboa Park

I took this photo of dew just last week. Dew usually happens before spring starts here. After that, our mornings are too warm. You can view more photos of dew here.

Purple wildflowers with morning dew
Purple wildflowers with morning dew

I featured these flowers in yesterday’s Macro Monday post. Tiny flowers are a great indication of early spring in San Diego.

Close-up of pink flowers
Close-up of pink flowers

Bright and colorful wildflowers to warm you up on this cold December day

Zazzle online shop If you enjoy my photos and would like to purchase some, I want to thank you! Simply visit my Zazzle online shop and browse the product offerings. If there’s a photo you would like to purchase but don’t see it in my shop, please contact me by using the Contact form at the bottom of my home page and let me know which photos you are interested in purchasing, and in what format / medium.

If you haven’t participated in my contest to win a free copy of my 2013 photo calendar yet, today is the last day, so hurry and let your friends know about it too!

I don’t know how cold it is where you live, but here in inland San Diego County, it’s freezing! And no, I’m not exaggerating, it actually froze last night when the outside temperature got below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Let’s just hope the cold weather doesn’t stay for too long, since it can do a lot of damage to the local avocado and citrus crops.

If it’s cold where you are, I have a few photos that will hopefully warm you up  bit. I took them last spring, when the warm sun laid its gentle rays on thousands of bright and colorful California wildflowers at a local park. Remember you can click on each photo for a larger view.

I used the first photo of wildflowers in my 2013 photo calendar, as it represents Southern California in the early spring perfectly.

California wildflowers - poppies
California wildflowers – poppies

Here’s a similar style of photo, but showing a different type of flowers.

Photo of colorful California wildflowers
Photo of colorful California wildflowers

Here’s another photo of the light pink wildflowers. I believe they are called Hungarian breadseed poppies. They’re very pretty with their delicate shades of pink!

Hungarian breadseed poppies - light pink poppies
Hungarian breadseed poppies – light pink poppies

Finally, here’s an assortment of colors for you: light pink, purple, orange and red. Somebody had fun throwing these seeds all over.

I hope you feel warmer inside, if not on the outside!

Pink, purple and red California wildflowers
Pink, purple and red California wildflowers