CARPETS OF ORANGE & GOLD

My epic poppy adventure.

“Through him all things were made;
without him nothing was made that has been made.”  ~John 1:3

This year, we experienced a bona fide explosion in the remote hills near Lancaster.  The technicolor display of poppies have come back roaring to

life.
The natural, never-ending, natural, blooming beauty was an experience to behold.  The view into the valley below was breathtaking.
The excitement and anticipation mounted as we traveled along,  punctuated by clouds and green mountains and occasional patches of wild flowers.
Large patches of poppies lined the roadside the closer to the reserve we got.

  I was celebrating the Lord’s creativity and acknowledging Him as the designer of this beautiful orange blanket covering the earth sandwiched between a blue sky and clouds.  I was pausing to enjoy the glory of God.

“God has made everything beautiful in its time.” ~Ecclesiastes 3:11

The visiting experience was spectacular!
Taking in the stunning view was enough to take

your breath away.  It was cold and windy, sending some of the flowers shivering, some closing up completly, giving the appearance of baby carrots sticking up from the green stems.  I am not one to complain about a blustery wind but it was a little insane. I  pulled up my hoodie and strolled on.

“Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them.” ~ Psalm 96:12

It has been an intense blooming season.  As far as my eyes could see, a sea of orange with occasional patches of yellow gold fields sprinkled with an assortment of other wild flowers here and there.
The sunlight filtering through clouds.  Others moving, creating large shadows upon the never ending  carpet of orange creating an extraordinary view.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.”~Psalm 19:1

It was an amazing, picturesque experience.
It is an awesome God behind the show.
Paul wrote, “God’s invisible qualities, his eternal power, and divine nature…” are seen and understood in nature. ~Romans 1:20

The master gardener’s gift that day was a jaw dropping marvel to behold, our classic California poppy state flower since 1903.  I left relaxed and refreshed.

“No poet has yet sung the full beauty of our poppy. No painter has successfully portrayed the satiny sheen of its lustrous petals. In its abundance, this colorful plant should not be slighted: cherish it and be ever thankful that so rare a flower is common.” ~John Thomas Howell