Viewing stones from northern California are known throughout the world as they have been exhibited in bonsai and stone exhibitions in Japan, Europe, and throughout North America. The complex geological history of northern California has produced an array of beautiful and unusual stones. Beautiful green serpentines, black basaltic rocks, jades often mixed with other minerals, and colored jaspers that resembles Japan’s Sado island Akadama stone, and others can be found in the many rivers and streams of this region of California. The rivers originate high in the Sierra Mountains and mainly run westward to the Pacific Ocean or to the southwest.
Thomes Creek and Thomes Creek stones
There are several books which prominently feature Northern California stones. These include Rivera’s book mentioned above, the San Francisco Suiseki Kai 25th Anniversary exhibition catalog
(2007), Jim Greaves’ American Viewing Stones Beyond the Black Mountain
(2008), Thomas Elias’ Viewing Stones of North America
(2014), and the California Aiseki Kai, Celebrating the Twenty-fifth Annual Exhibition at the Huntington
(2014). Additional publications promoting Northern California stones include the California Aiseki Kai Newsletter,
Golden Statements, and BCI’s Bonsai and Stone Appreciation
magazine.
If you are anticipating collecting stones in Northern California, it is best to always go with at least one other person in case of an accident, wear proper shoes, and bring a hat, sun screen, and equipment such as a back pack, crow bar, and stiff brush. To reach Northern California collecting areas, the Sacramento, Oakland, and San Francisco airports are the closest, but understand that it will take an additional two or three hours by car to reach many of the collecting areas. So, pack your bags and happy hunting.