An Artist’s Spring Wildflower Roadtrip (Part 1: California)

Mount Diablo, CA.

The Start

Every spring, California’s hillsides bursts in colorful fields of orange poppies. I’ve spent most of my life on the east coast, so I have only ever dreamt of witnessing this magical display of nature’s beauty. Now having lived in the Pacific Northwest for the past 3 years, I decided on a whim to finally visit the wildflowers.

As a starving emerging artist, I work in hospitality where there are no vacation days, no sick days, and no benefits. I was at a point in my restaurant job where I was considering a change. So I suddenly quit my job and decided there was no time like the present!

You see, it had been months since I made any art. I was stuck in the daily routines that consumed my life. Work, pay bills, sleep, eat, repeat. There was no room for creative inspiration. This trip was what my soul needed.

I made no plans in advance. All I knew was I wanted to see the wildflowers-wherever they may be. I followed my heart and it lead me along interesting paths. I started in April of 2023. I gave myself only 2 weeks to travel to Arizona and back up to Washington. My ultimate goal was to visit Sedona, but we’ll get to that later.

Driving down from Washington, I made my way south through Oregon. I visited a few hiking spots to see some flowers but it was too early for this state to show any blooms yet. Every night, I looked for places to sleep in my camper van. I usually just chose rest stops for an easy route back onto the highway. During my search of where to go the next day, I discovered I was close to the Redwoods. Just seeing the photos of the giants, I knew that would be a detour worth the stop.

The Redwoods

Grove of the Titans trail in the Jedidiah Smith Redwoods State Park.

There are no words to describe the beauty of the Redwoods. You simply must stand before the giants and feel their strength. The air was dense and magnetic. I felt like I was among ancient spirits. Redwoods are some of the largest trees on the planet. They have been around for centuries. Just go see them. You won’t be disappointed.

California Coast

After following a winding road through thick forests, I found myself on the famous highway 101. The coast suddenly appeared. I felt giddy like a child again. I used to love going to the beach when I lived in Florida, but I only went to the coast once in Washington. There’s something so enchanting about the relentless waves of the ocean. Unlike the white sand beaches of Florida, California beaches have large rock formations everywhere.

California Coast via Mendocino Botanical Gardens.

To satiate my need for colorful eye candy, I decided to make a stop to the botanical gardens in Mendocino. I spent a full day wandering the gardens for only $5. There were succulents larger than my own body! Earth never ceases to amaze me.

Jojo Kaleido and the big succulent.

California Poppies

After another full day of driving, I finally made it to the first poppy destination: Mount Diablo! I unfortunately underestimated how much gas I needed to get up to this spot. With only 25 miles left in my tank (!) I made way up the mountain. Rather than turn around and refuel, I decided to stop at a side trail along the mountain that only had 1 other car nearby. At about 3000 feet in elevation, the road up was winding and some parts of the road had fallen down, leaving only 1 lane in several spots.

I’m grateful for stopping where I did, since most cars were headed all the way to the top. The trail I chose was secluded, allowing me to enjoy the majestic scene in peace at my own pace. Several times, I just stopped to sit and enjoy the perfect breezy weather. The wind made the wildflowers dance as I traversed the narrow path under the oak trees.

Jojo Kaleido enjoying the Mount Diablo vista.

While I fully enjoyed seeing the wildflowers here, I felt like I wanted more. The poppies where I hiked were sparse and separated by large patches of green. I wanted to be immersed in vibrant color. From my last minute research, I decided on going to the Antelope Valley Poppy Reserve. I went on a Tuesday and the crowds were so huge even on a weekday that people were parking on the dirt road leading into the park. I luckily found a spot to park in the lot. I watched a video probably produced 30 years ago by the looks of it in the welcome center. With a hiking map in hand, I made my way around the park.

This park lived up to it’s name. Poppies everywhere. It was a sunny and breezy day. With so much land to walk, I could hardly tell there were so many people there also enjoying the flurry of orange and yellow flowers.

Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve.

In part 2, we’ll discuss the second part of my Spring Wildflower Roadtrip in Arizona.

In the meantime, below are the paintings I created inspired from my journey to see the wildflowers.

Jojo Kaleido’s Superbloom Paintings

California Hillside Wildflowers, 2023

Poppy Dreams, 2023

Spring Lupines and Oak, 2023

Jojo Kaleido is a contemporary impressionist painter. She currently travels and creates art out of her camper van. Read more…