As we continued on down the trail, we passed the bluff shown in this picture. The top, and darker, layer that you see is “Linda Vista” stone. This is the more “recent” dust and stone that has developed over the last million years. The layers below (lighter colored) are made of Torrey Pine Sandstone. Well over a million years old (and perhaps billions of years old), this sandstone is similar to the sandstone you find today in drink coasters, etc. It’s quite beautiful in person. I hope I was able to capture some of it’s beauty in this picture.
I love the plant in these next two pictures. First, the plant is quite pretty with it’s reddish/pink berries on it. These berries actually become little white flowers in the spring. Notice how the leaves are somewhat folded? This is why they call this a “Taco Plant”. That’s right…the leaves look like taco shells so it’s called the Taco Plant. Seriously! The “taco” leaves actually have a purpose; when it rains, the leaves guide rainwater down to the ground close to the base of the plant. It helps to keep it nice and watered even in drought conditions. Moisture from the fog in San Diego helps to keep this one watered as well, all by dripping down from the “taco” leaves. And the leaves are quite pretty as well!
This next picture is just a pretty view of the Pacific Ocean from the coast at Torrey Pines. Notice the dead tree in the middle of the picture? All the branches are gone and it’s just the dead trunk rising up from the ground. Pretty in it’s own way.
The following two pictures are of the oldest Torrey Pine in the Reserve. It is thought to be well over one hundred years old.
This is a picture of the sandstone that a lot of the bluffs along the San Diego coastline are made up of. Very fragile, the indents you see are the result of hundreds, perhaps thousands of years of rain and wind, especially wind, blowing up against the sandstone. At some point, the stone becomes so fragile it can withstand no more, and crumbles to the ground. In San Diego it’s not rare to hear of a bluff collapse since the bluffs are made of this fragile sandstone. You dare not sand too close to the edge of a cliff made up of this for fear it will crumble unexpectedly under your feet!
This is a lovely picture of our guide, Peggy. She was very nice and quite knowledgeable. We really enjoyed listening to her talk of the park. 
Need I say anything besides “beautiful”?
Check back again for more beautiful pictures from Torrey Pines State Reserve in San Diego, CA.
Happy Gardening!
Lore
Independent Garden Consultant
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