On a fall day we hiked past forest lakes, enjoying the weather and stopping along the way to enjoy plants, views, and sounds.

On disturbed areas next to trails was hoary alyssum (Berteroa incana), an introduced invasive species.   It is an annual or short-lived perennial that is poisonous to horses.

Also on trailside tracts on disturbed soils was Eyebright (Euphrasia).  There are many varieties.    This one was low-growing and had pink flowers with yellow patch on the lower petal.    The plant has been used by herbalists for eye ailments.   

In the fall, most of the wildflower sightings are daisies and asters, with many forms and habitats.

In Isobel Lake waterlogged logs had grasses and small shrubs rooted into cracks in the wood.

In the high country forest, douglas fir is the prevalent species, but there were also ponderosa pines, lodgepole pines, aspens, and a few englemann spruce.   Under and between the trees was pine grass, rattlesnake plantain, wild roses, and snowberries.

There was fungi, shrubs with berries, yellowing leaves on deciduous trees, herbs with seeds,  and lichens everywhere, a lifetime required to know all of the variety in the high country forests.