{"id":105668,"date":"2023-05-26T02:57:20","date_gmt":"2023-05-26T08:57:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=105668"},"modified":"2023-05-26T02:59:24","modified_gmt":"2023-05-26T08:59:24","slug":"blooming-prickly-poppies-in-the-west-desert","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/05\/26\/blooming-prickly-poppies-in-the-west-desert\/","title":{"rendered":"Blooming Prickly Poppies In The West Desert"},"content":{"rendered":"

Prickly Poppies are one of my favorite summer wildflowers. I find these poppies in desert habitats, most often in the foothills of sky island mountain ranges.<\/p>\n

\"FlatbudFlatbud Prickly Poppies in bloom \u2013 Nikon D500, f9, 1\/640, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

The petals of Prickly Poppies, like other poppy species, remind me of crepe paper. The white color of the petals remind me of snow.<\/p>\n

\"FreshFresh Prickly Poppy blossom \u2013 Nikon D500, f9, 1\/400, ISO 500, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I never get very close to Prickly Poppies because the leaves and stems are covered with spines. The one time I did get close to one I did get stabbed by them. These poppies are well named.<\/p>\n

\"DesertDesert blooming Prickly Poppy flower \u2013 Nikon D500, f9, 1\/640, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Prickly or not, I can’t resist aiming my camera at the lovely wildflowers wherever and whenever I find hem.<\/p>\n

\"FloweringFlowering Flatbud Prickly Poppy \u2013 Nikon D500, f9, 1\/640, ISO 500, -0.7 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Early morning is my favorite time to photograph these wildflowers much like my other bird and wildlife subjects.<\/p>\n

\"PricklyPrickly Poppy blossom \u2013 Nikon D500, f11, 1\/500, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I have seen quite a few native bees, beetles, grasshoppers, and other insects on these poppies. Since I enjoy taking photos of insects, I am always delighted by what I find on these wildflowers.<\/p>\n

\"FlatbudFlatbud Prickly Poppy in soft morning light \u2013 Nikon D500, f10, 1\/1000, ISO 500, -0.3 EV, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I always stop to photograph Prickly Poppies<\/span><\/a> when they are in bloom. Someday, I hope to find a bird perched on or near one of these gorgeous wildflowers. Maybe this year, that will happen.<\/p>\n

Life is<\/em> good.<\/p>\n

Mia<\/p>\n

Click here<\/span><\/a> to see more of my wildflower, shrub and tree photos.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Prickly Poppies are one of my favorite summer wildflowers. I find these poppies in desert habitats, most often in the foothills of sky island mountain ranges.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":105648,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[13114,358,26,1314,5347],"tags":[2284,6098,6557,7353,4098,2287,6518,7017,4302,2285,10452,2315,4055,30,4088,5065,4307],"class_list":["post-105668","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-flatbud-prickly-poppy","category-tooele-county","category-utah","category-west-desert-utah","category-wildflowers","tag-argemone-munita","tag-blooming","tag-blooms","tag-blossoms","tag-desert","tag-flatbud-prickly-poppy","tag-flowering","tag-foothills","tag-native","tag-prickly-poppy","tag-sky-island-mountains","tag-summer-3","tag-tooele-county","tag-utah-2","tag-west-desert","tag-white-wildflowers","tag-wildflowers"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/prickly-poppy-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-5507.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-ruk","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":116859,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/10\/08\/autumn-flatbud-prickly-poppy\/","url_meta":{"origin":105668,"position":0},"title":"Autumn Flatbud Prickly Poppy","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"October 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"When I drove out to the West Desert for some peace and solitude three days ago, I was thrilled to spot this Flatbud Prickly Poppy still in bloom.","rel":"","context":"In "Flatbud Prickly Poppy"","block_context":{"text":"Flatbud Prickly Poppy","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/trees-shrubs-and-flowers\/wildflowers\/flatbud-prickly-poppy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Autumn Flatbud Prickly Poppy in bloom, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/flatbud-prickly-poppy-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-2050.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/flatbud-prickly-poppy-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-2050.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/flatbud-prickly-poppy-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-2050.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/flatbud-prickly-poppy-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-2050.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":105012,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/08\/15\/fading-flatbud-prickly-poppy\/","url_meta":{"origin":105668,"position":1},"title":"Fading Flatbud Prickly Poppy","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 15, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning I am keeping this fading Flatbud Prickly Poppy post short and sweet for two simple reasons.","rel":"","context":"In "Flatbud Prickly Poppy"","block_context":{"text":"Flatbud Prickly Poppy","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/trees-shrubs-and-flowers\/wildflowers\/flatbud-prickly-poppy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Flatbud Prickly Poppy - Faded beauty, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/prickly-poppy-faded-beauty-mia-mcpherson-1610.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/prickly-poppy-faded-beauty-mia-mcpherson-1610.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/prickly-poppy-faded-beauty-mia-mcpherson-1610.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/prickly-poppy-faded-beauty-mia-mcpherson-1610.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47487,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/06\/29\/prickly-poppies-bees-and-a-grasshopper\/","url_meta":{"origin":105668,"position":2},"title":"Prickly Poppies, Bees and a Grasshopper","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"June 29, 2017","format":false,"excerpt":"Each Prickly Poppy flower is about 3 to 5 inches across with yellow centers of clustered stamens and delicate petals that look like white crepe paper.","rel":"","context":"In "Flatbud Prickly Poppy"","block_context":{"text":"Flatbud Prickly Poppy","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/trees-shrubs-and-flowers\/wildflowers\/flatbud-prickly-poppy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Prickly Poppies with a grasshopper and a bumblebee, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/prickly-poppy-bee-mia-mcpherson-4479.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/prickly-poppy-bee-mia-mcpherson-4479.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/prickly-poppy-bee-mia-mcpherson-4479.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/prickly-poppy-bee-mia-mcpherson-4479.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":92977,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/08\/05\/poppies-birds-trees-butterflies-and-a-smoky-haze\/","url_meta":{"origin":105668,"position":3},"title":"Poppies, Birds, Trees, Butterflies And A Smoky Haze","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"August 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The first time I raised my lens yesterday morning it was for blooming Prickly Poppies that were along the shoulder of the bumpy gravel road.","rel":"","context":"In "Birds"","block_context":{"text":"Birds","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/avian\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Blooming Prickly Poppy in a smoky haze at dawn, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/prickly-poppy-tooele-county-mia-mcpherson-3430.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/prickly-poppy-tooele-county-mia-mcpherson-3430.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/prickly-poppy-tooele-county-mia-mcpherson-3430.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/prickly-poppy-tooele-county-mia-mcpherson-3430.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":8893,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/07\/19\/prickly-poppy-argemone-munita\/","url_meta":{"origin":105668,"position":4},"title":"Prickly Poppy – Argemone munita","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"July 19, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"The Prickly Poppy is well named because the leaves and flower stems do have spines on them.","rel":"","context":"In "Flatbud Prickly Poppy"","block_context":{"text":"Flatbud Prickly Poppy","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/trees-shrubs-and-flowers\/wildflowers\/flatbud-prickly-poppy\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Prickly Poppy close up, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/prickly-poppy-close-up-mia-mcpherson-5922.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/prickly-poppy-close-up-mia-mcpherson-5922.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/prickly-poppy-close-up-mia-mcpherson-5922.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":109093,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/12\/29\/wildflowers-i-photographed-in-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":105668,"position":5},"title":"Wildflowers I Photographed In 2022","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"December 29, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"This morning I wanted to share some of the wildflowers I photographed in 2022. Birds are my primary subjects yet I simply can't resist focusing on wildflowers.","rel":"","context":"In "Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge"","block_context":{"text":"Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/category\/locations\/utah\/bear-river-migratory-bird-refuge\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Blooming Showy Milkweed with two ants, Wasatch Mountains, Morgan County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/showy-milkweed-mountains-ant-mia-mcpherson-3745.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/showy-milkweed-mountains-ant-mia-mcpherson-3745.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/showy-milkweed-mountains-ant-mia-mcpherson-3745.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/showy-milkweed-mountains-ant-mia-mcpherson-3745.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105668","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=105668"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/105668\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/105648"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=105668"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=105668"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=105668"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}