Nestled into Baywood California off of Ramona Avenue is a local gem where freshwater springs run into the salt water of Morro Bay, Sweet Springs Nature Preserve. Places where there is a plethora of water is where there is also an abundance of biodiversity in plants and animals. Sweet Springs is about 24 acres of preserved land that inhabits many native species and also consists of many short trails, boardwalks, and bridges that allow visitors to enjoy the beautiful views. Walking these trails will take you by Monterey Cypresses, Blue Gum Eucalyptus Trees, freshwater marsh plants, saltwater marsh plants, many different species of animals, and provide you with a view of Morro Bay, Morro Rock, and the smokestacks. There are also plenty of benches to sit at and enjoy the surroundings or take a break from exploring the trails.
What is so great about Sweet Springs Preserve is that it is easy for everyone to enjoy and access and it also is a quiet place where one can feel in tune with nature. In addition, it is a special place where you can find unique plants that have a specific living environment. Freshwater marsh plants are so interesting because they have to be able to survive in water all the time. They live in such saturated soils that many other plants would drown in. In addition, Sweet Springs is home to a California Federally Endangered species called Marsh Sandwort (Arenaria paludicola) which is a perennial herb that produces small white flowers with five petals. It only survives in freshwater marshes, so finding it in Sweet Springs is very special due the severity of its endangerment. So when hiking around Sweet Springs, keep an eye out for the beautiful little blossoms in the freshwater but make sure to leave it be so that this species does not go extinct.
Freshwater marsh plants have a unique adaptation that helps them survive in consistent water called aerenchyma tissue. A good way to describe aerenchyma tissue is that when you cut into the stem of plants with it, it looks like a sponge, where there are lots of little tubes and holes that travel through the plant. The purpose of this so that the plants are able to make gaseous exchanges even though their roots may be submerged in water. This is especially important in making sure oxygen is able to reach the roots of plants even when they are in a situation where oxygen cannot reach the roots. Since most plants need oxygen for aerobic respiration, too much water causes plants to be unable to retrieve oxygen from their roots, that is why aerenchyma tissue is so important for marsh plants.
Sweet Springs is home to a few Monterey Cypress trees which are the remains of one of the previous owners Richard Stuart Otto. Monterey Cypress trees are a non-native tree that was initially brought over from Monterey where they are native, and there used to be rows of them planted at Sweet Springs. However after the property changed possession between different owners, the trees were not farmed as they once were. So when walking through Sweet Springs you can still somewhat see the rows of what is left from when there used to be cypress planted.
In addition, the Blue Gum Eucalyptus trees are also non-native from Australia. These trees were brought here for their wood, but since there are completely different environments on the Central Coast than in Australia, their wood was not good enough quality to use for any sort of building. That is why there is an abundance of Eucalyptus trees in the Los Osos Baywood Area. What is also interesting is that for years scientists believed that the leaves from Eucalyptus trees were toxic, so when they fall on the ground no other plants would be able to grow there. This was common knowledge for the longest time until researchers discovered that, in fact, the leaves are non-toxic and, instead, create such a heavy layer that plants are unable to grow beneath them for lack of sun and other nutrients.
So if you are looking for a pleasant walk with an enormous amount of biodiversity, great views, and plenty of history, Sweet Springs is an amazing place to visit. It is easily accessible and definitely worth the visit.