14Mar19-Photos I’ve mentioned what the ocean means to me. It’s my spinach. Every time I’ve gone to the coast for a shoot, I end up looking over my shoulder at what’s on the other side of the PCH. From scenic views to vibrant flowers to the lush green and rust of a Redwood Forest, I could fill a photo-book. 😉 These are a compilation of several shoots where I caught sights away from the coast that deserved equal shutter time. These are extremely colorful shots which have had their vibrance pushed down a bit.
Since these are from different dates, I’ve given this shoot an unorthodox name. I called it this name because what inspired it is looking over my shoulder at the other side of the PCH. Often the patch of land between the shore and the PCH can also be pretty darn dramatic. The flowers in spring are so bright and it’s so moist on the coast. OOH-LA-LA!
On the Other Side
February, March, November & December 2019
- California Poppy: Our state flower loves the sun-exposed coastal grasslands. On bright days, they open wide to show off intense shades of orange and gold.
- Douglas Iris: Often found tucked into the slightly sheltered edges of coastal forests or open bluffs, these feature intricate, fan-shaped purple or lavender petals with distinct yellow patterns down the center.
- Sky Lupine: Growing in tall, striking spikes of deep blue and violet, lupines often carpet the coastal prairies right alongside the poppies, creating a beautiful contrast.
- Seaside Daisy: A rugged survivor found directly on sandy beaches and dunes, these grow in low, thick clumps, sporting cheerful yellow center discs fringed by pale purple or blue ray petals.
Why Are They So Vibrantly Colored?
The intense, electric colors of these flowers aren’t just for show, they are highly evolved survival mechanisms driven by two main factors: coevolution with pollinators and environmental protection.
1. The Pollinator “Billboards”
Plants and their pollinators have spent millions of years evolving together in a mutual partnership. Because flowers cannot move to find a mate, they must attract insects and birds to transfer their pollen.
The vibrant colors function exactly like neon roadside billboards, tailored precisely to the visual hardware of specific target pollinators:
- Bees (The Ultraviolet Specialists): Bees are drawn to blues, purples, and yellows. They see light in the ultraviolet spectrum, which is invisible to humans. Many flowers, like the Douglas Iris and Sky Lupine, have evolved hidden UV-reflective patterns called nectar guides. These act like runway lights, steering bees directly to the center of the flower where the nectar (and pollen) is located.
- Hummingbirds & Butterflies (The Warm-Color Seekers): Hummingbirds and butterflies have excellent color vision on the warmer end of the spectrum. They are highly attracted to brilliant reds, deep oranges, and hot pinks, colors that stand out vividly against a backdrop of green coastal scrub.
2. Built-In Sunscreen
Living on an exposed coastal bluff means enduring intense, unfiltered sunlight along with harsh, salty winds. The pigments that give these flowers their stunning colors, specifically anthocyanins (which create reds, purples, and blues) and carotenoids (which create yellows and oranges), actually serve a double purpose.
Beyond attracting bugs, these chemical pigments act as natural antioxidants and UV blockers. They shield the delicate plant tissues from solar radiation damage, ensuring the flower survives long enough to be pollinated and drop its seeds for the next season.
A Note on Coexistence: When you explore coastal trails like those in Point Reyes or the Sonoma Coast, you’ll notice that native wildflower patches are beautifully mixed, lupines rising right next to poppies. This layer-cake arrangement allows different plant species to share the local bee and bird populations without completely crowding each other out.
I know you’re dying to know…no, I’m not an expert on this subject either, but Gemini is. 😊 Between us, we do know everything. 😉
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