Yosemite Hikes Home
» Not Quite Yosemite
» Hite Cove
» Superbloom
Poppies & Popcorn, Merced River Canyon
Those isolated green patches under the trees would appear to be strong hints that Tufted Poppies are creatures of the sun. In fact, the flowers are so sun-oriented that they close up altogether when it's overcast. I'm not certain why - is there a favored pollinator that only turns up when the sun's out? Or do the poppies just prefer daytime pollinators but their daylight detectors are a bit tightly wound? If you're a phenologist, or possibly a poppy yourself, feel free to write in and explain.
The patches of white are likely a variety of popcorn flower.