Show me your state flower

California poppies are in bloom!
 

 
Took this picture a little late in the day (2003) after the flowers started to close for the night. 
 
What kind of bird is that?

I spent almost 2 years living in TN back in the 90's. The state flower back then apparently was satellite dishes. Those big, mesh black ones they used back then that moved around, not these little ones like Dish Network or DirectTV.
 
That bird looks like our sparrows. 

Ours won't be out for a while yet...we're still trying to save the buds from the WAY early spring that went back to seasonal freezing. Apple blossoms are our state flower, by the way.
 
I was thinking your bird was maybe a nuthatch.

The Ohio state flower is the scarlet carnation.  I have never seen one anywhere.  On the other hand, the Alaska state flower is the Alpine Forget-me-not which can be found  all over the state except the Arctic Tundra.  Especially beautiful in Denali Park. 

For anyone who needs to find it, this website gives pictures of all the state flowers:
http://www.50states.com/flower/

mar52


California poppies are in bloom!



Took this picture a little late in the day (2003) after the flowers started to close for the night. 

What kind of bird is that?

It's a Poppycock!!!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Saguaro_cactus_blossoms.jpg
The Saguaro Cactus Blossom of Arizona.
The best place to see them is in Saguaro National Park outside Tucson between May & June. 
http://www.saguaro.national-park.com/

@ Foodbme
 
  Driving I10 from Los Angeles to Texas I found it amazing how as soon as I entered Arizona I began to see Saguaros and when I entered New Mexico there wasn't one to be found. 
 
I love them.

 
The Ohio state flower: Scarlet Carnation

Connecticut and Pennsylvania state flower: Mountain Laurel
 

West Virginia State Flower: Rhododendren
 

Alaska state Flower: Alpine Forget-Me-Not
 

Note to everyone....   the bird in the picture is a meadow lark. We have them around here, see them all the time and most important, hear their unique call.
 
http://www.allaboutbirds..../western_meadowlark/id

mar52


@ Foodbme

Driving I10 from Los Angeles to Texas I found it amazing how as soon as I entered Arizona I began to see Saguaros and when I entered New Mexico there wasn't one to be found. 

I love them.

Saguaros only  grow in the Sonoran Desert.

What kind are those people looking cacti I saw?
 
I also like the Ocatillo I see in Palm Springs.

 

kland01s
 

Note to everyone....   the bird in the picture is a meadow lark. We have them around here, see them all the time and most important, hear their unique call.

http://www.allaboutbirds..../western_meadowlark/id

 
Thanks for the link.  It doesn't look like a meadowlark.  Not the right color and doesn't have that V marking on the chest.  It's more like a ring neck marking.

mar52


California poppies are in bloom!



Took this picture a little late in the day (2003) after the flowers started to close for the night. 

What kind of bird is that?

Looks like a killdeer to me.

I'm learning something here.  I thought the California State Flower was the bloom of Cannibus Sativa, a.k.a. "Bud".

Mississippi's is the flower of the Southern Magnolia  (magnolia grandiflora).  Probably the largest and best smelling.

Ahhh, the killdeer.  No.  I finally know killdeers and their distinctive sound.
 
This bird was more the size of a sparrow although it shares the neck marking with the killdeer.
 
I love all the flowers.
 
I've heard of the Forget-Me-Not, but didn't know they were really a flower.
 
 

Mar, I believe your mystery bird is a horned lark.

Brad, that looks the closest yet.  (Black tail missing)
 
Bill... did you move to Kansas?

I'll always be a Jayhawker. Besides, the Oregon Grape isn't
picture friendly. We have so many nice flowers here, I'm not sure how they arrived at that decision.
 

Michael Hoffman

Looks like a killdeer to me.

 
You are correct Mr Hoffman, I know what killdeers looks like too because we have them all over too but I certainly knew that the bird was NOT a nuthatch as someone above suggested! Most killdeers I see here are along the edge of a road or flat area and never in amongst flowers. That's what threw me off, I see meadowlark in amongst the grasses and flowers  like that but never killdeer.

Hmmm,  must have had too many views.  I'll rehost the pic on photobucket

1bbqboy

mar52

@ Foodbme
Driving I10 from Los Angeles to Texas I found it amazing how as soon as I entered Arizona I began to see Saguaros and when I entered New Mexico there wasn't one to be found. 
I love them.

Saguaros only  grow in the Sonoran Desert.

And only certain sections of the Sonoran Desert!
EVERYTHING you want to know about Saguaro Cacti!
http://www.nps.gov/sagu/planyourvisit/upload/the%20saguaro%20cactus.pdf