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Surrounded by prime open space, the nascent neighborhood of Blue Oaks sits northeast of Coal Mine Ridge in Portola Valley, giving elite residents a chance to live among nature while being a short drive from Silicon Valley.

Jo Owen, who lives on Red Berry Ridge in the 34-lot development, says she revels in the wildlife she can view around her hilltop home, from migrating fawns to quirky wild turkeys. She says a male turkey might spy his reflection in the window and think it is a competitor, then peck at the glass while his coterie of hens admire their "hero."

"After a while, the pecking drives me crazy," says Ms. Owen, adding that she bangs on a pot with a wooden spoon to drive the flock away. "I feel a little like 'Little House on the Prairie,'" she adds.

A retired third-grade teacher, Ms. Owen says she and her husband, Bruce, a Stanford economics professor, moved into the home in 2004 after living on campus because they were retirement age and wanted to spend more time amid the great outdoors.

She says a friend in Palo Alto asked her why the couple would choose to live so remotely, and Ms. Owen likened the experience to taking a trip to Tahoe year-round.

"We have our vacation home and our home base as one-and-the-same," she says. "We can see the weather patterns, the fog coming in from the Santa Cruz Mountains. It just kind of creeps in very slowly, very carefully. On clear days we can see San Francisco from our deck."

Gregory Bonfiglio, a stem cell-biotech venture capitalist and neighbor to the Owens, also emphasized Blue Oaks' setting.

"There's a reasonable-sized group of coyotes that hang around and spend their evenings howling at the moon," he says, noting also the daytime presence of rabbits, deer and hawks. "I can sit on my back porch and see them practically every day."

On the other hand, he says the closeness of wildlife poses some challenges, including keeping the family's small Havanese dog on a leash.

Mr. Bonfiglio says he bought a lot in 2000 and moved into his new house in 2004 after living in west Menlo Park. Mr. Bonfiglio's two children attend Woodside Priory School, established by Benedictine monks.

"There's a wonderful group of families living here," he says. "There really is a strong sense of community in Portola Valley. Honestly, I think we live in paradise. It's a wonderful combination of the rural setting in the middle of a major metropolitan area."

Ms. Owen agrees, adding that residents endeavor to host holiday gatherings in their scenic refuge. "Last year there was a gingerbread house-making party for the kids for Christmas. There's always something."

Carol Borck, a planning technician for Portola Valley, says the majority of Blue Oaks' lots are built out or have homes under construction, but there has been no progress on building eight below-market-rate units in the vicinity.


FACTS


CHILD CARE & PRESCHOOLS (NEARBY): Windmill Preschool, 4141 Alpine Road, Portola Valley; New Horizons School-Age Center (after school care), 200 Shawnee Pass, Portola Valley; Carillon Pre-School at Christ Church, 815 Portola Road, Portola Valley; Woodside Priory School, 302 Portola Road, Portola Valley

FIRE STATION: Woodside Fire Protection District, Portola Valley Station, 135 Portola Road, Portola Valley

PARKS: Rosotti's Field, 3915 Alpine Road, Portola Valley; Windy Hill Open Space Preserve, 544 Portola Road, Portola Valley; Foothills Park, 3300 Page Mill Road, Los Altos Hills

PUBLIC SCHOOLS: Portola Valley School District — Ormondale School (K-3), 200 Shawnee Pass, Portola Valley; Corte Madera School (4-8), 4575 Alpine Road, Portola Valley

Sequoia Union High School District — Woodside High School, 199 Churchill Ave., Woodside

SHOPPING: Nathhorst Triangle, Portola Road at Alpine Road; Village Square, 884 Portola Road; Ladera Shopping Center, 3130 Alpine Road, Portola Valley

MEDIAN 2008 HOME PRICE: NA

HOMES SOLD: NA

View the neighborhood map (PDF)

— Todd R. Brown