Elfin Forest Activities

by Jean Wheeler

Saturday August 2: The volunteer work party known as the "Weed Warriors" will meet from 9 am to about noon. Anyone is welcome to join in and help pull obnoxious invading weeds and work on projects to reduce erosion. Wear comfortable shoes, long pants and sleeves, and park at the north end of 15th Street in Los Osos. Ron rewards his warriors with his delicious homemade cookies as the morning's labors conclude!

Second Saturday Walk: August 13 – No 2nd

Wednesday walk this month Vicky Johnson will be away during August. There will not be a 2nd Wednesday walk this month.

Third Saturday Walk: August 16, 9:30 a.m. – What's Underfoot? Soils! Have you heard the term "Baywood Fine Sand?" It's the name of the predominant soil in Los Osos, including the Elfin Forest. It's what you walk on when the pavement ends because all of Los Osos was once a series of sand dunes. Soil scientist Lynn Moody will describe local soils and talk about how important soils are in determining what plants will grow in them. We'll learn how sandy soil both benefits and stresses plants. Lynn will also explain why the presence of sandy soils in Los Osos reflects climate change and seismic activity over the past couple million years.

Walks begin on the boardwalk at the end of the 15th Street sand path. Park at the north end of 15th Street (16th Street for wheelchairs) off Santa Ysabel in Los Osos. Please park carefully, avoiding driveways and mailboxes. Wear comfortable shoes, long sleeves and pants to avoid poison oak and mosquitoes.

Besides docent-led events, visit the Elfin Forest any day: Experience the quiet natural beauty of this small wilderness area. Park at the north end of any street from 11th through 17th streets off Santa Ysabel in Los Osos, avoiding driveways and mailboxes.

Coming Up in the Elfin Forest

Dune Buckwheat has been producing more blossoms than most drought-struck shrubs if fewer than this species usually does, and they are aging to pink, then rust in color. California Asters bloom mainly from August to December with ray flowers in white to pale pink or lavender around yellow central discs.

Colorful fruits add their beauty to the Elfin Forest in late summer and early autumn and will hopefully provide food for birds and other wildlife even in this year of severe drought. California Coffeeberry is especially attractive along the boardwalk between Bush Lupine Point and Siena's View. Its berries appear yellow at first, darken to red and finally turn a richly glowing black. Berries in all three colors are often clustered together on these shrubs in August and September. Another bright red berry grows on Hollyleaf Cherry shrubs in the same area.

Among our resident birds active at this time of year are White-crowned, Chipping, Lark, Savannah, and Song Sparrows; Dark-eyed Juncos; House and Purple Finches; Lesser and American Goldfinches; Bushtits; Bewick's Wrens; Blue-gray Gnatchatchers; and Anna's Hummingbirds. Fairly common but usually skulking low in the bushes are California and Spotted Towhees, California Thrashers, and Wrentits. The blue flash and noisy screams of California Scrub Jays are everywhere, and California Quail can be seen scurrying through the underbrush.

Western Fence Lizards dart actively along the boardwalk in these warmest months, and you may be lucky enough to see a Garter, Gopher, or California King Snake, none of which is poisonous. Tracks of our nocturnal animals, notably Raccoons, can often be seen in the sand next to the boardwalk on early morning walks.

The abundant and active life displayed by so many plants and animals adapted to our dry climate and sandy dune soils is marvelous to observe at this most stressful season of a very stressful year.