Stagecoach Hill Azalea Nature Trail

Stagecoach Hill Azalea Nature Trail

tagged: California day hike Humboldt County Humboldt Lagoons State Park loop short trail trip report Thursday, September 16, 2021

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.

rolling cap and gills of a mighty fungus fruiting body (mushroom) — Dozens of these russula mushrooms, big and small, were popping up throughout the forest.

Sitka spruce trunks — 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.

thin, light purple petals — The native aster has some fresh flowers still coming. (I just love the minute dew drops.)

bright yellow dome of tiny fertile flowers surrounded by narrow, yellow petals — The ragwort, a non-native aster, also have a few fresh looking representatives.

big red berry with a spider — The roses have become hips, but there's still a crab spider waiting within.

long lived flowers — The pearly everlasting shows one or two buds disintegrating into seed.

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

red veined and red leaves — The azaleas leaves are beginning to turn.

leaf buds, I think — Confusingly, this azalea was putting on new growth.

a touch of red in the leaves — A bit more of the leaves of the azaleas just starting to turn.

brown and grey bird grips a vertical huckleberry branch — 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.

bush of white flowers — Coyote bush, both male and female, are scattered around.

bright yellow plumes — A few spots are thick with goldenrod.

deep red berries in pairs and one long yellow tube flower pair — 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

Liked this? Interesting? Click the three bars at the top left for the menu to read more or subscribe!

Comments