Here in Russian Ridge, summer still has a hold on the landscape, with dry grasses and empty skies. But there’s a smell in the air – seasonal rains are soon to arrive in Coastal California.

I took this photo of Russian Ridge on a day that felt like the true end of summer. Convective clouds are invading the Bay Area, as the moisture from the Hawaiian Islands begins to be funneled towards Coastal California – a sure sign that the season is changing. But the sun is still strong, and won’t give up the fight for moisture so easily. This day felt like a turning point, ripe for a regime change, with unanimous yearning for the sun to release its stranglehold on the landscape. It will be a few months still before the grass turns green, but the long process will begin soon.

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