I am seeing lots of discussion about using blocks specific to a theme that might not be good for everyone. Since they are just quilt blocks they all will be wonderful regardless of a religious or state theme, or any other. You can name them anything you like. If you don't like the name California you can call it Rome instead. If you don't like the Crown of Thorns you can call it Cactus instead. The theme is just to get a series of blocks for us to try, isn't it.
Our overall theme is just to have fun and end up with a quilt we made ourselves out of interesting blocks. No theme is going to get in the way of that.