California Poppies and Blackberry Bushes

Blackberry bush and California poppy.

California poppies were blooming everywhere in April and May.  Native to California this bright orange colored flower is beautiful and can be seen grown in bunches all along the country side.  Different shades of orange, yellow, and dark orange, the range can be quite beautiful.

These particular poppies were blooming among some blackberry bushes and it looked neat to me.

A reminder these flowers are illegal to pick, unless they are on your own property.   Really they are not going to last anyway, they do not do well at all once they are picked.


They are known to bloom in the spring, and also in the fall in California.

Blackberry with dried poppy petal.

Quails in Trinity County on a snowy morning.

Quail in Trinity County, I am pretty sure they live in the blackberry bushes.

There are always lots of quail around.  I am not sure if there is one group, or many groups of them.

Sometimes I will see ten or more at a time.  They are very quick, and will run as soon as I open the door to take photos.

For once I managed to sneak up on these quails and get a few pictures.  

Another very interesting fact about the quails, that I found out a few days ago.  

My dad informed me that the quail are actually not very fat.  They have an air sac between their feathers and their bodies, which puffs out to keep them insulated.  And I thought they were well fed. :-)  I do see though, now a few weeks later, that they are in fact, not that fat, in the yard yesterday, of course, the weather is warmer.

These are some very beautiful quail, they look pretty well fed to me.

Quail running away, they are very sensitive to noise.

Finally, some Blackberries

Blackberries are the greatest fruit ever. I love standing in the middle of the blackberry bushes and picking them. It can be painful yes, but they are worth every prick of the thorns. You hands and arms can itch and feel irritated after picking them. Below are pictures of the blackberries that I picked. My neighbors can attest to these wonderful tasting blackberries. Please comment below neighbor with your opinion. :-)