Skyline Open Space Preserve, Hike and Sketch May 11 2017 Russian Ridge, Santa Cruz Mountains

Our hike took us on the Ipiwa and Sunny Jim loop trail system, a distance of about 2.5 miles. We began at the nature center on a tranquil pond and from there we traveled along the ridge trails with expansive views of meadows and the Pacific coast. We finished in the shade of magnificent California oaks and bays. It’s been an amazing year for spring flowers. We are approaching the end of the wildflower season, yet there were many striking examples to see on the Ipiwa and Sunny Jim Trails. For more information on the Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve please check out the Midpeninsula Open Space District’s website: Link        Wildflowers

Lisha painting on the Ipiwa trail

Marilyn

Salinda

Liz

Helen, Marilyn, Lisha

Lorraine

Group Shot on the Ipiwa Trail

Group shot under oak on the Sunny Jim Trail

Dick and Salinda

Keep moving!

Still pond

Spotting wildflowers

Candy and her fan club

Lisha

The Nature Center and artists across the pond

Wildflowers

Owl’s clover

Checkerboard mallow

California Pitcher Sage / Monkeyflowers

These are the paintings by our plein-air hike and sketch artists.

Helen's

Helen's

Marilyn's

Marilyn's

Lisha's

Liz's first painting

Liz's second painting

Candy's

Candy's

Candy's

Jane's

Jane's

Dick's

Salinda's

Salinda's

Group photo - lunch near Horseshoe Lake