My husband and I went on a search for wildflowers yesterday. With the exceptional amount of rain California has received this winter, there is hope that this will be a tremendous year for Spring Wildflowers. I had really wanted to go to Death Valley, everyone is talking about a possible “super bloom” in the desert this year, but it is a 6 hour drive, and really requires a 3 day weekend, which I do not have access to.
When looking at scenery like this, I kind of forget there is over population in the world.
After doing some research, I discovered the Carrizo Plain National Monument, which is about 60 miles west of San Luis Obispo, on the Central California coast. I had never heard of this place, but I am always up for an adventure, so off we went.
The Carrizo Plain is the largest native California plain left. It runs along the San Andreas fault. I told my husband, as we were driving through, that we were basically at “Ground Zero” if the “big one” came. He was none too happy with that little piece of information.
Soda Lake – The San Andreas Fault runs somewhere along that mountain range. I didn’t go searching for it, I know better.
It was simply beautiful scenery. So stark and desolate on the surface, but teeming with birdlife and surrounded by hills coated with brilliantly colored carpets of wildflowers. I saw happy cows – we have “Happy Cows” in California. Shoot – I’d be a happy cow if I could look at that scenery all day.
I climbed up a steep hill overlooking Soda Lake, and listened to a guy who works for Microsoft talking to several Mennonite men about computers, Apple and IBM. I guess he was the one who had parked his Tesla down at the bottom of the hill. It was kind of weird though, because here I am out in the middle of nowhere, listening to Meadowlark calls, while a man from Microsoft talks to a guy dressed like a pioneer, about computer companies. I felt like I was in the middle of a Bergman or Fellini film, because as I am listening to this, while getting into awkward positions in an effort to capture the perfect photo of the wildflowers, I see a huge group of women in bonnets and long dresses strolling down the boardwalk that extend to the shore of Soda Lake.
Honestly, I was so disoriented by the contrast, I really was half-expecting to see a line of covered wagons coming across the plain.
It was a most enjoyable little adventure. I felt refreshed and rejuvenated upon returning home….flowers make me happy.
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Categories: California, Central Valley, Wildflowers
that looks sooooo warm!!!
It was!!! A balmy 74.
Absolutely stunning!!!
It was really so peaceful, and standing out in the fields, or on top of the hill overlooking the lake and the hills, I felt such calmness, as if all was right in the world.
Those moments are worth holding onto for as long as possible. ♡
Yes and if I was a brilliant poet like yourself, I would come up with beautiful words to describe it all. It is so good to hear from you!!
Your prose works just fine, my friend. Inspiring for poets like me. ♡
It looks like a sight worth seeing. I even like the happy cows! 🙂
I like the Happy Cows too, although they seemed rather confused about my sudden appearance.
Those women want to watch out. They look for all the world like Syrian refugees!
The women actually reminded me of pioneer women, and it was so strange, because I had been thinking when we were driving out to this area, what it must have been like to try and cross all these mountain ranges in covered wagons, carrying everything one owned, going at a steady clip of about 10 miles a day, getting over one mountain range, and seeing another range off in the distance and wondering if one would ever make it to the coast. And then I see these women, and it was if I stepping back in time.
Rather ironical isn’t it, that not so long ago most women had to cover their heads, even the admirable pioneer women, yet refugee women have the finger pointed at them for doing just that. I wish people would find better causes to gun for.
Beautiful pictures! Seems so quiet and peaceful <3
It was so peaceful, almost too peaceful. All I could hear was the birds, and the cows. It was so serene I felt like I could really breathe. It was great…and not a Starbucks as far as the eye could see.
Beautiful and serene, though I agree that the Microsoft/Mennonite encounter seems a little like a blip in reality. 🙂 I love your photos – they made me long for sunshine and flowers. I’ll have to see if I can get my husband to go for a drive! You’ve inspired me.
Oh good!!! I remember when we used to do Sunday afternoon drives as a kid, I kind of got that same feeling when we were out hunting for wildflowers. I felt so free, with no chores pressing on my mind, just out in the open, listening to the birds sing, and the Microsoft man.
What a great find…unbelievable the amount of rain California has received this year….so green. The flowers…so incredible…we just did a drive from Phoenix to LA this last weekend and couldn’t believe how colorful the desert was the entire way…bright yellows…lavendar and pinks…beautiful pictures!!
I would think that experience would inspire you to write a story or two. I love the picture of the dog next to the cows. I had to do a double take.
Hee-hee, it’s uncanny, isn’t it!
Literally gasped at that first picture. How stunning it must have been in real life!
It was amazing, I felt like I could breathe, huge soul-refreshing breaths.
Just stunning!
Thank-you.
We were there a couple days after you. One of the most amazing display I have ever witnessed.
I loved it!! I really wanted to go the desert outside of San Diego, they say the wildflower blooms are so massive, the colors can be seen on satellite. That must be quite a sight. Thanks for coming to visit my little blog!!!!
I loved it! !