Desert candles above a flower-filled arroyo, Coast Ranges, California
The last couple of months have been a whirlwind. We did a night-photography workshop in Death Valley in mid-April, which was really fun, with some great conditions. In early May I spoke at the NANPA Summit in Tucson, then immediately after that Claudia and I flew up to Washington for the Out of Olympic photography conference. Both those events were also lots of fun. We got to meet many wonderful people, connect with old friends, and photograph the beautiful rainforests and beaches of the Olympic Peninsula.
But meanwhile, all the winter rains in California had spawned an exceptional spring wildflower bloom, which we definitely wanted to see. So from early March to late April, sandwiched around our Death Valley workshop, and juggled with other events and projects, Claudia and I traveled to Antelope Valley, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park, and various locations in California’s Central Coast ranges.
And we found lots of flowers. It’s an extraordinary experience to see such vasts swaths of flowers in these normally dry desert or semi-desert areas. Rain makes these places explode with life. It seems as if years of pent-up energy has suddenly burst out, with the earth putting on a wildly-colored wardrobe to celebrate the event.
Here’s a selection of photographs from our wildflower odysseys this spring. Who knows when we’ll see this again?
— Michael Frye
Fingers of yellow, Coast Ranges, California
Flower-coverd hills, Coast Ranges, California
Shrub and wildflowers, Antelope Valley, California
Wildflowers at sunrise, Anza-Borrego Desert SP, California
Cactus, brittlebush, and Parrish’s poppies, Anza-Borrego Desert SP, California
Ocotillo, chollas, and brittlebush, Anza-Borrego Desert SP, California
Cholla cactus garden, Anza-Borrego Desert SP, California
Flowers and tilted strata in the Coast Ranges, California
Flower-draped hillsides, Coast Ranges, California
Desert candles and blazing stars, Coast Ranges, California
Flower-filled ravine, Coast Ranges, California
Owl’s clover and goldfields, Coast Ranges, California
Wildflower array, Coast Ranges, California
Flower designs, Coast Ranges, California
Related Posts: Escaping the Snow; Zion in Winter; The Floweriest Piece of the World
Michael Frye is a professional photographer specializing in landscapes and nature. He is the author or principal photographer of The Photographer’s Guide to Yosemite, Yosemite Meditations, Yosemite Meditations for Women, Yosemite Meditations for Adventurers, and Digital Landscape Photography: In the Footsteps of Ansel Adams and the Great Masters. He has also written three eBooks: Light & Land: Landscapes in the Digital Darkroom, Exposure for Outdoor Photography, and Landscapes in Lightroom: The Essential Step-by-Step Guide. Michael has written numerous magazine articles on the art and technique of photography, and his images have been published in over thirty countries around the world. Michael has lived either in or near Yosemite National Park since 1983, currently residing just outside the park in Mariposa, California.
Awesome images, Michael.
Thank you Marvin!
Magnificent variety of beauty! This has been a great year of photography for you and Claudia thanks to the exceptional rains, snow, your talents, and travel log!
Thanks very much Ann! It has been a fun year.
Michael, thanks for sharing these. They’re incredible. I’m grateful to be able to see these through your eyes/lens as no wildflower trips for me this year. Staying home and spending every last moment with our dog on hospice was better than seeing the flowers.
Thank you Dawn. Sorry to hear about your dog – I know how hard that can be.
What a great collection of photos of wildflowers.
Thank you James!
Marvelous images! This California flower bloom is a show apart! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks very much Fabio!
Wow, you have been busy lately! I’ve immensely enjoyed all the posts of your recent adventures with Claudia, so wonderful!
These are gorgeous images, thanks so much! I’m headed to Yosemite for three days next week and am looking forward to roaring falls and, hopefully, some wildflowers.
Thanks so much Bob! I hope you have a good time in Yosemite. You’ll see roaring falls for sure. As for wildflowers, well, maybe some dogwoods will still be blooming. There might be a few other flowers around the valley.
What a beautiful and diverse collection of photos, Michael! You clearly made the most of this special year.
Thanks so much Sarah! Glad you like this collection. It was such a great year for flowers, and I’m glad we were able to get out and enjoy them. Glad you and Ron did too down at Anza-Borrego.
What amazing colourful photos, Michael!
Thank you Kuno!