Blooming Scarlet Gilia – Nikon D500, f10, 1/1250, ISO 640, -1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Yesterday morning birds were a little slow high in the Wasatch Mountains so I looked for wildflowers to focus on including blooming Scarlet Gilia. Other names used for Scarlet Gilia are scarlet trumpet and sky rocket.
Scarlet Gilia in bloom in the Wasatch Mountains – Nikon D500, f10, 1/2000, ISO 640, -1.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
Scarlet Gilia (Ipomopsis aggregata) is a native biennial flowering plant in the phlox family found primarily in western North America. The bright red color of these wildflowers attract hummingbirds as pollinators.
I backtracked to take images of these Scarlet Gilia plants because when I first saw them they were in the shadows of the mountains to the east. The light was much better on them after the sun had risen over the mountain peaks.
Flowering Scarlet Gilia – Nikon D500, f10, 1/1000, ISO 640, -1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
While I wish I had been able to take more images of birds yesterday morning I had a blast taking my time and focusing on the wildflowers that were close to the road. I have taken documentary images of Scarlet Gilia prior to yesterday but these are the first images of this species that I am adding to my galleries.
Scarlet Gilia blossoms – Nikon D500, f10, 1/2000, ISO 640, -1.0 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light
I wish I would have had my macro lens in my backpack yesterday. I need to remember to carry that lens with me during wildflower season.
First day of summer low temp 2022 – cell phone snap
Speaking of seasons, yesterday was the first day of summer. I wanted to share the temp I saw as I entered the canyon where I photographed the gilias and other wildflowers. It was a little brisk and not very summer-like!
Life is good.
Mia
Click here to see more of my flower, shrub and tree photos.
Beautiful shots – temp a little lower, not much, but a little lower than our 42 degrees.
Wow…nippy morning. The Scarlet Gilia certainly look like the perfect hummingbird feeders don’t they? Beautiful shots. Thanks Mia.
We have these pretty flowers up here in north central Washington state too. I once sat and watched a couple of white-tailed deer does moving through a field of flowers selectively eating only the scarlet gilia. Fascinating.
Beautiful, beautiful things. Thank you – and your eye for beauty.
Thank you for sharing these shots. I especially like the third one. 🙂