Random Sonoma Scenes!

Landscapes

Snowy sonoma

Sonoma County Weather

I suppose if we weren’t talking about snow while the cherry trees are in bloom it would be some other weather related topic. Whether the discussion is about rain or snow, sun or fog, or if we’re going to freeze if we go out in shorts (I’m talking about you, Jim Brush), it’s hard to [...]

read more
students observe coho salmon stocking in Sonoma County

6,000 Coho Salmon Find New Home

It was a magical day for me, a dozen high school students, assorted conservation folks and two generous and wise land owners who offered their property as a new aquatic home for 6,000 coho salmon.  I was impressed with the organization of the team from the Coho Salmon recovery program for the Russian River. I’ve tried [...]

read more
Alexander Valley

Alexander Valley Estate Sites

Rolling hills, ancient oaks, and great views define the eastern slopes of the Alexander Valley which runs from Cloverdale in the north to Healdsburg in the south. This long stretch of land follows the Russian River which has blessed the valley floor with rich, alluvial soils that produce wonderful grapes. Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay predominate, [...]

read more
Roblar Road Barn

Roblar Road

Serendipidy can be your friend. In my case, a maps.google.com search for the fastest route to Dillon Beach told me part of my drive should be on Roblar Road. It’s been a while since I drove that stretch of Sonoma County between Petaluma and Sebastopol, so this morning I went for a drive. Man, it [...]

read more

Cherry blossoms are impossibly intense

This was a stellar day. You know how sometimes the light is just right and the temperature mellow warm, but not hot. Add to that the wonderful smells filling the air as the growing season kicks into high gear with the warming and lengthening days. I stopped along Old Redwood Highway near Wikiup to grab [...]

read more

Spring in Luther Burbank Land

It’s easy to forget how blessed we are in Sonoma County. I was previewing a Healdsburg listing for some snow-bound clients who wanted to know what was blooming right now. The property owners obviously loved camellias and had planted some wonderful specimens to go with the quince and daffodils that bracket the floral show below. [...]

read more

Snow

The last few days have been cool enough to make jackets and sweaters seem like a good idea. The rain has been warm enough to still feel like a California winter, but the higher hills have been dusted with a beautiful snow cover. I spend some time hiking around a new listing in the Alexander valley, [...]

read more

Governator targets Guerneville parks

Arnie, baby, tell me it ain’t true! Newspaper reports indicate the proposed state budget plans to close Austin Creek Reserve and Armstrong Woods along with 46 other California parks. In Sonoma County the Petaluma Adobe park would also be closed. It’s clear that we have budget woes in the state, but there have to be [...]

read more

Rain's faces

California’s growth rhythm is always a mystery to newcomers from four season climates. In Sonoma County we already see the first stirring of new life even as the leaves linger on the trees and Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas bear down on us. These early rains have triggered the grasses and beneath our still golden hills [...]

read more

Inverted lawnmower in Freestone

Twin Valley, home of the Macmurray Ranch used to have the most wonderful trimmed redwoods. The underside of the trees along the fence line of their western pasture used to be groomed as crisply as a golf course green…just upside down. It was the cows, of course, reaching as high as they could to nibble [...]

read more