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Jug Handle Trail: Location 1

This terrace was a sand-and-gravel beach a hundred thousand years ago. Grasses and wildflowers moved in to create a rich soil; in May and June you can see a color display of California Poppy, Indian paint brush, baby blue eyes, wild strawberry, and yarrow here as well as coast lupine, plantain, live-forever, sea pink, and seaside daisy. These plants must resist the wind and salty ocean spray; many of their leaves have fine hairs that prevent rapid water loss and help catch dew, an important source of water during the summer.