Hike in San Luis Obispo's coastal hills

Just over the hills from Avila Beach is the trailhead of a hike I've done once before.

There's plenty of Mimulus. Some fading to brown:


And some still fresh:


And Poison Oak, already turning red in places:



The lupine has reached and passed it's peak. This is one of the few flowers left:



Lupine seed pods go suddenly from a normal pod shape as they ripen to a helix-like shape that explosively releases and scatters seed. This is known as explosive dehiscence. Poppies do it too.

Lupine seed ripening:


Lupine seed ripened and scattered:



The plant community is coastal woodland on the inland side of the hill with manzanita growing in exposed areas where it can get sun and California Live Oak elsewhere.







There's a flowering plant that I couldn't identify:



Here's the leaves of my mystery plant:




And there's hummingbird sage:



And there's a great view from the top




- Posted at great expense from my iPhone