I made this series during my hands on study of California nature. Due to the great number of ecotones in California the nature diversity explodes. There are 7,000 species of plants, but next door in Nevada, that number drops to 80 species. California plants work together in community to keep each other alive in harsh conditions.

During this time, I hiked the same local trail to study all the plants in the different seasons. I had been blind to the local ways of nature for so long. I was surprised that I could live here my entire life without seeing what was always around me. I couldn’t see the beauty of my home, and was amazed to see what I’ve previously never opened my eyes to before. I found fruiting plants, berries, grains, vines, and tons of bright wildflowers. I learned to understand the areas they chose to grow, the environmental conditions they preferred, the wildlife they housed and fed, the plant communities that gravitated towards each other, and the local world became so rich.

When I would meditate in mind space, as I do to paint, all these things wandered through my thoughts constantly. They wanted t be recorded in my paintings, so this series is for them.