Bees and Beauty

Allie Enyart, 4 (left) and Mike Enyart (right) ride past wildflowers that bloom near the entrance to Wildwood Park in Upper Bidwell Park Thursday, April 21, 2011 in Chico Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A bee pollinates wildflowers that bloom near the entrance to Wildwood Park in Upper Bidwell Park Thursday, April 21, 2011 in Chico Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Wildflowers bloom near the entrance to Wildwood Park in Upper Bidwell Park Thursday, April 21, 2011 in Chico Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Bee Creative

Bee boxes are popping up all through the area and trying to get a closeup of such a small insect can be challenging. But with a little effort and time I was able to snap a photo of a bee in flight. Luckily, there was also another bee buzzing by in the background. I think it makes for a little more interesting picture than the bee not in motion. What do you think?

A group of bees fly around in a field along Durham-Pentz road Friday, April 15, 2011 in Butte Valley, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

A bee pollinates a flower along Durham-Dayton Rd. in a field Friday, April 15, 2011 in Durham, Calif.

(Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

California Poppies Pop Up

Spring is here and the sun is shining. Poppies are opening up in fields all around Chico. They are so vibrant and go well with a deep, blue sky. I never really look through the camera when taking pictures of the poppies. I can't even get that low. I place the camera on the ground and point it to look up. It is a great viewpoint of the flower. They stand tall towering high in the sky, even though they are only about 6 inches up. I always enjoy taking pictures of them.

A bug's shadow is seen crawling up one of the California poppies that pop up from the sunlight in an open field behind the Chico Mall parking lot Tuesday, April 6, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/staff photo)

Flowers Face Dark Clouds

After spending some time in Paradise for a girl's soccer game, I decided to pull into the parking lot at Lookout Point. The spring weather had disappeared and left a gloomy day overhead. Some flowers were still bright and in full bloom. I decided to lie on the ground and snap a couple shots. I could see the rainfall in the distant foothills too.

A batch of flowers continue to shine even though threatened by a dark cloud looming overhead at Lookout Point Thursday, March 25, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)

Rain falls over the Valley as seen from Lookout Point Thursday, March 25, 2010 in Chico, Calif. (Jason Halley/Chico Enterprise-Record)