Oak chaparral and evergreen forest both feature in my favorite view in Russian Ridge Open Space, of California’s Santa Cruz Mountains.

I love watching this group of trees in Russian Ridge change throughout the seasons. While not the most dramatic season in the California Bay Area, summer is certainly the most peaceful – at least in the evening, when temperatures become more mild. This shifts the fog back towards the coastline, and thus is no more than a subtle background element from this vantage. This leaves the empty sky a dull gold with hints of red, which matches the dry landscape perfectly. To me, these summer scenes in the Santa Cruz Mountains ooze relaxation, and make me want to pour a glass of wine and just slow down.

Purchase “Russian Ridge in Summer” Fine Art Print: