As the days grow shorter and morning fog drifts over the ponds, Columbia Springs settles into a quieter rhythm. The forest hums with the work of change, with owls calling in the distance, leaves falling in slow spirals, and mushrooms rising through the damp soil after rain. Spooky season is a time when people often celebrate mystery and transformation. Here in the woods, those same themes unfold naturally all around us. Nature does not need costumes or decorations to remind us of wonder. It shows us every day.
Listening to the Night
When dusk arrives, a new chorus fills the air. The deep, steady call of the Great Horned Owl echoes through the trees, marking the beginning of its nightly watch. Owls move almost silently, their wings designed to muffle sound. It is a powerful adaptation that helps them hunt and a reminder that quiet observation is one of nature’s greatest strengths. At the edges of day and night, crows make their presence known. They are social, clever, and full of character. Scientists know that crows remember human faces, share information, and even teach their young which people to trust. Their calls may sound chaotic, but they are often communicating about safety, food, and family. When you hear them gathered at sunset, think of them not as noisy neighbors but as the forest’s storytellers.
Plants with Presence
Fall brings new expressions of life to the plants that shape our site. The Devil’s Club rises from the damp forest floor, tall and covered with thorns. Despite its name, this plant has long been valued by Indigenous peoples of the Pacific Northwest as a medicine and symbol of strength. Its presence reminds us that what looks formidable often carries deep wisdom. Nearby, the Western Hemlocks bend gracefully in the wind, their branches draped in moss and rain. The Bigleaf Maples drop wide, golden leaves that cover the trails in shifting layers of color. As those leaves break down, they return nutrients to the soil, beginning the cycle of next spring’s growth. Even in the act of letting go, the forest prepares for what comes next.
Mushrooms: The Hidden Network Beneath Our Feet
Autumn rains awaken one of the forest’s most fascinating communities: mushrooms. They appear almost overnight, bright coral shapes tucked into moss, delicate caps unfolding from fallen logs, and patterned fungi decorating stumps like nature’s artwork.
Among the species that can be found at Columbia Springs are Turkey Tail fungi, with their layered fans of brown, gray, and blue, and Shaggy Parasols, whose scaly white tops rise from rich soil. But the real magic lies underground. Each mushroom is part of a vast network of mycelium, fine threads that connect trees and plants across the forest. Through these hidden pathways, nutrients and information flow. The forest is literally talking beneath our feet. Fungi are nature’s recyclers and connectors. They break down fallen wood, feed new growth, and knit the ecosystem together. When you spot a mushroom, you are looking at the tip of an invisible system that sustains nearly everything around it.
Seeing the Forest Differently
As evening settles, Columbia Springs takes on a softer, more contemplative beauty. Mist gathers over the ponds, and spiderwebs shimmer with dew. What first appears mysterious is really a sign of balance, the ecosystem working in harmony. Every sound and movement, from the drip of rain to the flutter of wings, plays a role in keeping this place alive. Walking the trails this time of year is an invitation to notice. When we slow down, we begin to see not a spooky forest, but a living, breathing community that changes with intention and purpose.
Across cultures, autumn is a time for reflection and gratitude. Here at Columbia Springs, it is a season to appreciate transformation, the beauty in what fades, and the promise of what will return. We invite you to visit this fall. Listen for the crows, look for the mushrooms (but don’t touch), and feel the rhythm of the forest preparing for rest. Every rustle, hoot, and heartbeat here tells a story of resilience and renewal.
Columbia Springs acknowledges the Indigenous Peoples of this land were the first stewards of salmon and the ecology of the Pacific Northwest. We invite you to remember that wherever you are you are on native land.