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Lovely little California poppies,
humbly scattered through the grassy roadside
margins, splashing the green
with riveting bits of orange.
Gather them up and bring them home.
Be warned – very soon they will drop their petals,
but don’t clear the petals away.
Let them stay.
And keep watching.
Petals dropped, the seed pod, with its little disc,
lengthens out,
elongates, and dries.
What next?
(I’m sure you know).
bluebrightly 
How graceful these are Lynn , I’d not really quite appreciated the inner structure of a Californian Poppy before …..
Somehow from your words here I’m reminded now of a line from the poem Tam o’ Shanter by Robbie Burns
“But pleasures are like poppies spread, You seize the flower, its bloom is shed; Or like the snow falls in the river, A moment white–then melts for ever”.
Hope you are enjoying a less *work -y weekend 😉 x
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I am, thank you…pleasures are fleeting…but that makes room for more, doesn’t it?
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I’m hoping so 😉
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These are just so beautiful
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I just can’t help it, no matter how hard I try. I miss color.
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Made me laugh! 🙂 I appreciate your honesty. Refreshing in this arena of gushing superlatives. Not that I wouldn’t hate it if no one gushed, but you know what I mean. Too many of us – myself included, hesitate to say anything that could be interpreted as sounding negative.
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Well, obviously it wasn’t personal. I just don’t “get it” when folks go to B&W conversion. But glad you didn’t take offense.
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These are exquisite and lovely images. Love the lack of colors!
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And we hear from another camp… 🙂 I do adore the poppy’s color but these worked in black and white for me.
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The last one is striking. Nature is full of forms appearing artificial.
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It is, especially when you look closely – there’s architecture there! Thanks!
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Stunning shots! I believe the real colors are standout in a single closeup but your conversion to B&W are gorgeous!
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I’m happy to hear that – thanks for stopping by!
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Such gorgeous forms. The delicacy of your processing is perfection, Lynn.
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Coming from someone whose work has inspired and influenced me, that’s good to hear. And I thought of you when I processed them. Thanks!
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Exquisite simplicity, Lynn. Beautiful.
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Thank you Lynne, I was pleased with the way they came out and am wondering if there will be any more around. I’d like to work at this more. We’ve had some heat and the first flush is gone, but I think they’ll come back again – we’ll see!
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I like the pictures, but for me an essential component of the Californian poppy is its (unique?) colour.
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I understand – it is a gorgeous orange, it really is.
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Beautiful words and images as ever Lynne!
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Graceful series.. I think you made a good choice with monochrome because it draws attention to the degree of exatness that went into your compositions.
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Such elegance and grace, so beautiful in b&w!
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Gorgeous work. Love the black and white and the compositions.
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Thank you Jane – I appreciate it!
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