Wildflowers and Nature

Perhaps the tiniest flower yet, this bud from a wood sorrel plant might easily be confused with clover. It is slightly larger than the head of a ballpoint pen. Shot at 3X macro on a Canon 65mm 1-5X super macro lens on a Canon 5D iii. This lens does not focus so you have to very carefully move closer farther away from the subject to get it into focus like a microscope. Even such a tiny treasure has more intricacy than can easily be captured even with this lens. Tiny folds, delicate hairs, and complex inner workings can be revealed upon a closer look. Captured in Sunol Regional Wilderness, California.

Prettyface, also known as a golden brodiaea (Triteleia Ixiodes). Captured on Table Mountain near Marysville in Northern California. Canon 10D with a Tamron 90mm macro. f2.8 @ 1/180th second, ISO 100.

Cranebill (likely a Dove’s Foot Cranebill - Geranium Molle). This little flower is ubiquitous this time of year around the grass covered hills of northern california, though it comes with some variety. It's about a little smaller than a dime. Captured in Sunol Regional Wilderness among tall grass with a Canon 1x-5x super macro (2x magnification). I love the inset flower (stigma) inside the anthers.

Wildflower, likely Stevia Serrata (please correct me if you know for sure). Captured in Sunol Regional Wilderness, California. Amazing how intricate and beautiful a weed can be for a few weeks of the year.

California Buttercup. Captured in Briones Regional Wilderness. Canon RF100 lens at 100mm, f8.0, 1/250th second, ISO 640. These are fairly common in the spring around northern california, but are hard to photograph because their tall, thin stems sway long distances in the slightest breeze. When they grow in clusters, they look like 3 dimensional stars in the sky.

Pineapple weed, captured in Sunol Regional Park, California. Canon 100mm lens, f8.0, 1/100th second, ISO200. This tiny flower is about the size of a small pencil eraser. It is commonly found on dirt trails and is quite hardy amid foot and animal traffic. In the summer, this charming flower turns into an ugly, vicious, thorny ankle biter! But in the spring it's a hidden gem right under your feet that goes unnoticed by most.

Winter Vetch, captured in Sunol Regional Wilderness, California. Canon RF100 lens at f9.0, 1/800th second, ISO 2500.

Sunol Regional Wilderness, California. Dipterostemon capitatus, colloquially known as a blue dick. Hey, I didn't make the name! Each flower is a little bigger than the eraser on a pencil. Canon RF100mm macro. 1/500th second @f5.0.