2025.10.02 | A Great Year for Nature on the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve

two views of the same patch of grass along the Ridge Trail: standing in July and laying down in September

This was an exciting year at the preserve. Even though there wasn’t a lot of rain, the wildflowers put on an amazing spring show. The flowers were bright, colorful, and blooming everywhere! Then summer came, and the grasses grew super tall—especially along the Ridge Trail. It looked like a sea of green! The rain came at just the right times to help everything grow strong and healthy.

To help keep everyone safe from fire, the Cambria Community Services District (CCSD) mows a strip of land around the edge of the preserve near the homes on Huntington and Warren. This area is between 50 and 100 feet wide. They mow it a few times each year to keep the grass short. CCSD also mows along the walking trails to make it nicer for people and dogs (no one likes ticks or pokey foxtails!).

But the rest of the preserve stays wild. The tall grasses are left alone. Over time, the grasses get old, and their stems can’t hold them up anymore. The wind and rain help push them down until they lay flat. This happens every fall, and it’s completely natural.

Once the important fire safety work is done, the best way to take care of the preserve is to let nature do its thing!