Sonoma Oak

Before Aileen and I moved to Sonoma County in 2013, we stayed at the home of some friends in Cotati for a weekend. Driving up the western slope of Sonoma Mountain, we stopped to admire the expansive view of Petaluma Valley and the Santa Rosa Plains. This beautiful oak is a very typical feature of the landscape in east Sonoma County.

Old Oak at McCormick Ranch

This is another photo of an iconic Sonoma County oak, this one in the McCormick Addition of Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, in the Mayacamas Range.

Grape Cluster at Dusk

This photo (and the next) was taken in a vineyard about a half-mile from my home, in 2014. About a week later, the grapes were harvested.

Grapes, Evening Light

Barrels on Mountaintop

This photo was taken on the estate of Kunde Family Vineyards in Kenwood, while enjoying their "mountaintop" tasting experience. A shuttle drives you up to the top of the Kunde property in the Mayacamas Range, from which there are stunning views of the Sonoma Valley. Many of the exterior shots in the film "Bottle Shock" were filmed at the Kunde Estate, although the story is set in Napa County.

Canyon Trail with Bridge

Up the road about a mile from our house is this trail in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park. The park contains the headwaters of Sonoma Creek, which passes through this canyon into Sonoma Valley, and eventually flows into the Petaluma River. This part of the forest is quite moist, with lots of ferns, ivy, and Coast Redwoods, but up the hill a bit, the landscape shifts to oak woodland.

Vista in Sugarloaf Ridge

This photo was taken in Sugarloaf Ridge State Park, on the Grey Pines Trail. Notice the Grey Pine branches on the right side of the frame.

Winter Landscape, Sonoma Valley

This photo looks towards the Mayacamas Range. Even without their foliage, the oaks are still beautiful.

Horse and Oaks

This photo makes me wish I could build a little cabin right there amongst the trees.

Sonoma Valley in Winter

This photo was taken from a piece of land owned by the Sonoma Development Center, adjacent to Sonoma Valley Regional Park in Glen Ellen. The view is south, towards San Pablo Bay. The Mayacamas Range of hills rises to the left of the photograph. Although not visible, the town of Sonoma lies in the distance.

Gnarled Oak in Winter

Sonoma County contains many, many wonderful specimens of oaks, primarily Valley Oaks and Live Oaks. Some really stand out for their majesty.

Lake Suttonfield, Glen Ellen

This lake is a reservoir on the land of the Sonoma Development Center, a state-run residential facility for people with mental disabilities. The hill in the distance is Sonoma Mountain. The author Jack London owned land on the slopes of this mountain, and this property is now Jack London State Park (lying adjacent to the Development Center).

Trail and Oaks

A scene in Sonoma Valley Regional Park.

Annadel Oaks

This photo was taken in Annadel State Park, in Santa Rosa.