Stagecoach Hill Azalea Nature Trail

Humboldt Lagoons State Park

(Map link.)

I was heading to Dry Lagoon again, but I decided to stop and see what the nature trail holds in this season. The azalea flowers have long gone, of course. The irises are just bunches of thick leaves. The columbines have vanished. What is there? An empty lot as usual and the green is encroaching on the sign, but the trail is highly visible. I headed down and took the left at the unmarked split for the loop, staying under the forest for longer.

Dozens of these russula mushrooms, big and small, were popping up throughout the forest.

Sitka spruce forest in the morning light.

I broke out of the forest into the open areas where the azaleas flourish and found the trail seems to be getting narrower, but it is certainly not devoid of flowers.

The native aster has some fresh flowers still coming. (I just love the minute dew drops.)

The ragwort, a non-native aster, also have a few fresh looking representatives.

The roses have become hips, but there's still a crab spider waiting within.

The pearly everlasting shows one or two buds disintegrating into seed.

The azaleas were offering hints about the season. They are starting to turn.

The azaleas leaves are beginning to turn.

Confusingly, this azalea was putting on new growth.

A bit more of the leaves of the azaleas just starting to turn.

One of a few tiny wrentits fluttering about.

The ocean seemed particularly loud and a few breakers were just visible way down past the hill and the highway and the blue goo.

Coyote bush, both male and female, are scattered around.

A few spots are thick with goldenrod.

The twinberry honeysuckle is starting to lose berries, but somehow this one still has a flower.

I found myself returning to the forest, so it was on to the next thing.

*photo album*




©2021 Valerie Norton
Written 5 Oct 2021