Sweet Springs Trail in the fall, after the start of the rains. The autumn trail beckons. The big leaf maple is losing its leaves. Sweet Sprngs Trail, Portola Valley Ranch, 11/18/2011, 10:03 am. Portola Valley Ranch was an innovative development when construction began in 1975, and still leads the way in many respects. It occupies 400 acres, straddling the San Andreas Fault in Portola Valley, California. Originally zoned for one house per two acres, it was reconceived as a planned unit development. The houses were all placed within half the area, with plenty of natural land and trails in between. Groups of houses cluster together, with natural landscaping and no fence lines. The remaining 200 acres have been dedicated as permanent open space. Public trails traverse the land. Sweet Springs Trail is in the “developed” half of the land, winding around a hill with houses near the top. As you can see, this area feels undeveloped, wild. Wildflowers abound in the springtime. There is a view across the Bay to Mount Diablo. Dan Quinn enjoys capturing and sharing images showing aspects of the natural world at a special moment. A resident of Portola Valley Ranch since 1977, he is a board member of Acterra, a docent at Jasper Ridge, and active with Hidden Villa and with Sempervirens Fund, POST, CGF, the Sierra Club, and other conservation organizations. His web site is <CaptureTheLight.Zenfolio.com>. Email: [email protected].