Russian Ridge in Transition

Matt Tilghman

This day in Russian Ridge had the sky of summer, but the mood of spring. As the rains of winter give way to sunny skies, the moist soil of the Santa Cruz Mountains is poised for a takeover. The tall dry grass is finally pushed out by this year's new flock. For a few fleeting months, these gentle hillsides are a lush wonderland – but in no time at all, this grass too will grow tall and brown. The cyclicality of these mountains is beautiful and mesmerizing, even on a year-long timescale. The more things change, the more they stay the same.


Russian Ridge in Transition