"Spring, Fashionably Late"

Spring has sprung, but the flowers are scattered at best. The real show should begin in the next couple of weeks, but the yield this year is questionable. Many of the native grasses have already established a strong foothold on areas where wildflowers normally come in. March turned out to be a very wet month, so other areas not overtaken by the grasses could provide an abundance of blooms. In 2009, the wildflowers were already peaking by the first week of March in many places. This year looks to be an April year. This was taken in Carrizo Plain National Monument last Friday. This grouping of Phacelia was the only display I encountered worthy of shooting. The light was fantastic, so although it is still early, the trip was worth my time and effort. Thanks for your time!!

wonderful light and mood. very good photo.

Beautiful shot Mark, the lighting is stunning. I love the effect it has on the flowers and background.

Thanks so much for this vision... Best Regards.

The light just could not be more spectacular, Mark. Excellent arrangement and those sun rays are pure magic. This  is a "fashionably late" spring? I still have snow in my front yard up here in Washington!

We expect more...........You tell nature what to do!

Nice capture from the "Plain".  I'm also waiting. 

See ya along the 58.

denny lincoln

Excelent photo, great lights and nice flowers!!!!  Best regards   David!!

A wonderful light controlled landscape  great job.............

The hills are alive, more to come, you must be getting excited.  I am looking forward to seing more. Best regards rek.

Excellent work! (6)

Thanks Zsolt, Liz, Marta, Marc, Denny, Ernest, David, Kurshid, Richard and Maurizio! I've been waiting over a year for spring to return. I hope it's a long one!! Yes, Marc, spring here usually would be going strong by now. In fact, there were blooms arriving in February in the Santa Monica mountains, but then the weather turned back to winter for the month of March. Fortunately, it was really wet in March, so that could be a good omen!

Mark...   Early, late, it doesn't matter, this is a gloriously captured morning scene...  As always, excellent presentation... Mike

Thanks Mike! I've been meaning to get over to your camp and comment on some of those beautiful Cal Coast shots. Look for me to be there soon!!

What a perfect scene you have captured here! Love the sun, the light on the flowers, and how the frame fills the perfect amounts of each element to hold interest but not be too busy. Awesome!

A beautiful composition with very nice lighting and colors, Mark. I prefer the clarity of the flowers on the other one even though this is very good. And for what it is worth, we are at least another month away here in the Montreal region.

I love the lighting, and the illuminated hillside.  Excellent shot!

Congrats for being selected by the editors for Spring. Well deserved.

Ditto!

Mike

I let this one get away from me! Sorry Rick, Tony and Linda for neglecting to respond to your earlier comments! Thanks again to Tony and Mike; nice to be recognized by the PNet gurus who make this all possible!!

Love! Absolutely gorgeous!