Looking for an assortment of wildflowers may mean a short road trip.

Try Jackson, along Highway 49, for starters. It’s there that Darrell McCain came across poppies, thistles, Mariposa lily, and miniature lupines, to name a few, while picnicking with friends in the hillside area along Electra Road that follows the Mokelumne River.

The retired teacher from Stockton is an outdoor photographer. He enjoys roaming around Northern California, seeking out great scenic spots including the Sacramento and San Joaquin Delta to take nature shots with his Nikon cameras.

In his website (www.derrellmccain.wordpress.com), McCain also listed the Eastern Sierra along US Scenic Highway 395 and Pacific Coast Highway as his other favorite spots.

Consumnes River Preserves

Location: 13501 Franklin Blvd, Galt.

How to get there: Take Interstate 5 north to Thornton Road, turning right heading east to Franklin Boulevard. Make a left turn from there, go north for a few miles towards the bridge.

Highlights: While summer is a good time to see songbirds, it’s this time of year that brings out colorful wildflowers. The Cosumnes River Preserve has several nature hikes in which to take, allowing you to meander around the river and lakes. All trails near the nature center are flat and easy to maneuver.

Oak Grove Regional Park

Location: 4520 W. Eight Mile Road, Stockton.

How to get there: From Interstate 5 (north), take the Eight Mile Road exit and turn right.

Event: Celebrating native plant week….Wildflowers that bloom in the spring.

When: April 16-17, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Cost: Admission is free but parking at the entrance is $5.

Highlights: The Nature Center at Oak Grove Regional Park will have wildflower displays from the Valley, Foothills, and Coast Range. This event is sponsored by the California Native Plant Society and the Oak Grove Nature Center.

Information: Call 209-953-9914.

By VINCE REMBULAT

209 staff reporter