Coastal Bluff Trail is a short loop along the outer edge of the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens. This lovely trail takes you through more natural areas of the gardens; you will pass through closed-cone pine forest to coastal bluff and marine zones. The plants along the coastal bluff zone bloom from March to June with plants like California poppy and seaside daisy. These coastal grasslands are undergoing restoration to protect native species by removing exotic and invasive grasses to protect the local, coastal grassland species. Visitors are urged to stay on trails to protect the fragile environment. The closed-cone pine forest is home to mature Bishop pines and important understory plants and provides critical windbreaks and wildlife habitats; without the pine forest, the rest of the gardens couldn't exist! The tall trees help protect the plants and gardens from the intense winds and weather off of the Pacific Ocean.