{"id":47487,"date":"2017-06-29T05:35:07","date_gmt":"2017-06-29T11:35:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/?p=47487"},"modified":"2026-03-18T13:45:57","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T18:45:57","slug":"prickly-poppies-bees-and-a-grasshopper","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2017\/06\/29\/prickly-poppies-bees-and-a-grasshopper\/","title":{"rendered":"Prickly Poppies, Bees and a Grasshopper"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"PricklyPrickly Poppies with a small bee – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/2500, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

Earlier this month I had seen a few stands of Prickly Poppies blooming in the West Desert near the Stansbury Mountains<\/span><\/a> but they had been damaged by what appeared to be some kind of spray so yesterday when I found a few more Prickly Poppies that were undamaged I decided to focus on a few of them for a bit.<\/p>\n

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. The stems, flower buds, leaves and seed pods have spines on them and they look more than a little prickly, I wouldn’t want to touch them.<\/p>\n

I am not sure what species of bee I photographed with these Prickly Poppies but I liked how the bee was clinging to the yellow stamens.<\/p>\n

\"PricklyPrickly Poppies with a grasshopper and a bumblebee – Nikon D500, f7.1, 1\/3200, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I was also able to photograph some Prickly Poppies that had a bumblebee and a grasshopper in the frame, I am not sure of the species on those either. The bumblebee seemed to make the grasshopper a bit wary because it jumped off the poppy right after this photo was taken.<\/p>\n

\"BumblebeeBumblebee and Prickly Poppies – Nikon D500, f13, 1\/800, ISO 400, Nikkor 500mm VR with 1.4x TC, natural light<\/span><\/p>\n

I took a few more images of the poppies and the bumblebee after the grasshopper left because I liked the sunny yellow stamens, the pollen on the legs of the bumblebee and the pure white petals of these wildflowers.<\/p>\n

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

Mia<\/p>\n

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

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. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":172502,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","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":[2284,2464,5940,5941,2287,4738,2288,11717,2285,2289,5065,4307,102],"class_list":["post-47487","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-bee","tag-bumble-bee","tag-bumblebee","tag-flatbud-prickly-poppy","tag-grasshopper","tag-mexican-poppy","tag-poppies","tag-prickly-poppy","tag-thistle-poppy","tag-white-wildflowers","tag-wildflowers","tag-wildlife"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/prickly-poppy-bee-mia-mcpherson-4479.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p11Mom-clV","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":105668,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/05\/26\/blooming-prickly-poppies-in-the-west-desert\/","url_meta":{"origin":47487,"position":0},"title":"Blooming Prickly Poppies In The West Desert","author":"Mia McPherson","date":"May 26, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"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.","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 Poppies in bloom, West Desert, Tooele County, Utah","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/prickly-poppy-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-5507.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-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-5507.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/prickly-poppy-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-5507.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/prickly-poppy-west-desert-mia-mcpherson-5507.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":116859,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2023\/10\/08\/autumn-flatbud-prickly-poppy\/","url_meta":{"origin":47487,"position":1},"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":8893,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2013\/07\/19\/prickly-poppy-argemone-munita\/","url_meta":{"origin":47487,"position":2},"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":105012,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/08\/15\/fading-flatbud-prickly-poppy\/","url_meta":{"origin":47487,"position":3},"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":92977,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2021\/08\/05\/poppies-birds-trees-butterflies-and-a-smoky-haze\/","url_meta":{"origin":47487,"position":4},"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":109093,"url":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/2022\/12\/29\/wildflowers-i-photographed-in-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":47487,"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\/47487","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=47487"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/47487\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/172502"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=47487"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=47487"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.onthewingphotography.com\/wings\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=47487"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}