Sunday, May 20, 2018

Wilder Ranch State Park, Coast Road, Santa Cruz. May 17, 2018



The Wilder Ranch State Park is located a little over 3 miles north of Santa Cruz. Much of the 7,000 acre park was once a successful and innovative dairy farm, and today has many preserved farm buildings, gardens, a Victorian House and actively farmed land. Whether you chose to hike and sketch along the coastal trail or to remain near the entrance and take in the historic Wilder family farmstead,  the views were spectacular. The hike and sketch 2.5 mile route initially followed a ranch road and then took us along the coastal bluffs overlooking the Wilder Beach (a snowy plover wildlife preserve), Old Landing Cove, down a side trail to Fern Grotto Beach and a return overland to the farm. The highlights of the hike included views of surf-swept bluffs, coastal wildflowers, wild rabbits, several bird species, views of basking seals, and to top it all,  lunch near a fern-filled grotto surrounded by cascading seep monkey flowers!
For more information on the Wilder Ranch State Park please refer to the following link:
https://www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=549

May Paintsites:  See the SCVWS website or the May Newsletter for details: 

  • Thursday, May 24, 2018: Cooper-Garrod Vineyards (& Stables), Saratoga
  • Thursday, May 31, 2018:  Holbrook-Palmer Park, Atherton
  • Thursday, June 7: Oak Meadow Park, Los Gatos 
  • Saturday, June 9: Weekend Paintsite: Frederick’s Field, Almaden Valley 
  • Thursday,  June 14: Frederick’s Field, Almaden Valley  
  • Thursday, June 21: Gamble Garden, Palo Alto 
  • Thursday, June 28: Hike and Sketch or Sit & Paint  - Uvas Canyon CP, Morgan Hill 

Not to be missed Shows & Exhibits by Paintsites Regulars:

  • Tanvi Buch currently has a one woman show at the Red Berry Coffee Bar, 145 Main St., Los Altos.   In May she'll have 16 watercolors displayed on the ground floor.  In June, the exhibit will move to the second floor.    Do go see Tanvi's artwork and buy a cup of coffee to support a local business that supports local artists.
  •  Annie Haines was awarded an Associate Artist Award by the San Francisco Bay Chapter of the California Art Club for her "Point Reyes Lighthouse" watercolor.   The painting is currently on exhibit in the CAC "Art Between the Lines" show at the Peninsula Museum of Art.   The Museum is located at 1777 California Dr., Burlingame.   The show runs thru July 8, 2018.   Annie's painting is also featured in the May-June issue of Fine Art Connoisseur.



Edward Rooks, a knowledgeable naturalist, a fabulous photographer as well as accomplished artist,  has created a Flicker photo album for all to enjoy --- for more of today's Paintsite photos see:


Cindy, Helen, Liz, Edward and Jane sketching at the Wilder Beach overlook

The restored Wilder Ranch house



Wilder Beach and plover preserve

View of bluffs from the coastal trail

View of Fern Grotto Beach from the trail 

Paintsite sketchers at work at the Fern Grotto Beach

Broncha's sketch from the beach 

Brad and Liz at Fern Grotto Beach

Liz sketching seep monkey flowers

Marilyn standing in front of the fern grotto

Marilyn's sketch of Wilder Beach

Tanvi's sketch of the inlet at Fern Grotto Beach

Lora's sketch of the bluffs from the trail overlook 

Helen's sketch of wild mustard and Wilder Beach
in the background



Cindy's sketch of the wildflowers and a view overlooking Monterey Bay


Edward's painting of the fern grotto

Jane's sketch from the Old Cove Landing overlook

Salinda's painting by the Fern Grotto Beach

Dick's painting of cactus above the Wilder ranch house












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