HAYS Creek Linear Park

Abies
 Hays Creek trail is easy walking and well kept trail. The city has done a good job putting in paths and bridges in what is essentially a sewer line corridor.
Conifer trees are 2nd growth hemlock and cedar, with patches of good spruce and occasional firs (Abies).
Huge cedars, left from the original clearing, highlight the path. Often they 'carry' younger trees on lower trunk ('Bear Mother' Trees like on Totem poles).		 Bear Mother Tree
Gneiss bolder along trail
Probably most interesting to a biologist is how the soil's "organic layer" has disappeared with urbanization. (I estimate 6" to 18" gone.) Textbooks will tell you it's essential for coastal hemlock forests. Everywhere the dirt is just below the surface litter -highly unusual
Along the path one can see gneiss boulders that are not local rocks. Presumably left when glaciers retreated.		 Boulders beside trail bridge

Contrast cedar and "sticks"

 Because this is 2nd growth which wasn't "planned" it varies between hemlock sticks and robust spruce.

The 'leaf' canopy is closed in most areas so the shaded ground cover is muted back to moss. Occasionally, when the light is right, these make beautiful studies in color. (see Below)

 Quartz veins in metamorphic rock

Silver Weed

 The estuary is most dynamic and changing at this season -- Here are 2 plants in flower that were used for food historically.