I Love Sonoma County

One of the reasons I love Sonoma County is Spring Lake in Santa Rosa. Every morning it gives me something new to discover.

This week I rounded the corner and was greeted by a flock of hardworking landscapers… goats!

Instead of noisy equipment, Spring Lake uses grazing goats to naturally clear weeds and reduce fire danger. Watching them work is amazing—they quietly transform an overgrown hillside into a neatly cleared landscape in just a couple of weeks. Look at the babies!

It’s one of the many reasons I treasure this place. Beautiful trails, changing seasons, wildlife, peaceful mornings, and a community that cares for the land in thoughtful sustainable ways.

Spring Lake never feels the same twice. One week I’m watching great blue herons glide across the water. Another morning it’s turtles sunning themselves on a log, deer crossing the trail, or wildflowers beginning to bloom. This time it was a hillside full of hardworking goats doing their part to protect our community. It’s a reminder that nature is always changing, and there’s always something new to discover.

Some mornings I walk for exercise.

Some mornings I walk for inspiration.

And some mornings… I get to visit the goats.

As an artist, these quiet mornings matter. They remind me to slow down, pay attention, and appreciate the beauty in everyday moments. More often than not, that’s where inspiration begins.

I feel incredibly lucky to have Spring Lake in Santa Rosa just minutes from home. I wake up early excited that this is how I get to start my day.

The journey isn’t always about getting somewhere. Sometimes it’s about slowing down long enough to visit the goats.

These quiet mornings often find their way into my art. You can explore some of that inspiration in my Gallery.

If live in Sonoma County and you’ve never visited Spring Lake, you have to go. Maybe I’ll see you there.

– Julia