Changed Plans

On Sunday, I intended to visit a new church in a nearby town. They don't have their own building yet, so are using the aging community center. As soon as I walked into the meeting room, I was met by a wall of warm, heavily-scented air. Since I am highly sensitive to scented products, I immediately began to feel unwell. I strolled around the small, airless room hoping to find a corner where I could breathe, but it was not to be. So I left the building and promptly formed Plan B: I would drive a few miles farther and go for a walk at Farragut State Park.

As you can see, it was cloudy, but it was not at all chilly. I was comfortable with a light sweater over my shirt. About a dozen trucks with boat trailers were parked in the parking lot by the boat launch; people were boating on the lake, but it wasn't exactly swimming weather.

I walked out onto a dock to shoot the above photo.

The trail along the lake shore is one of my favorites. I only encountered two other people along the trail, so it was very quiet and peaceful. Now and then a motor boat disrupted the silence, and I thought of my Uncle Fred, who used to call them "pleasure boats", only he pronounced it "pleshur". I don't know if that was a personal quirk, or the result of his Scandinavian heritage.

I stopped to photograph some of the flowers along the way. Above is a wild rose. I am very certain about the identification of this particular wildflower, but I may be wrong about some of the others; I am not a botanist. I rely heavily on "A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers" and Google Lens.

Lupine

Yarrow

I did ask a forestry/botany person about this one, and was told it is houndstongue, a highly invasive, non-native species. I am not sure whether the park staff digs up invasive terrestrial plants. I do know the entire state is very particular about invasive aquatic species.

Wild hyacinth

Toadflax

Pacific Ninebark

Arrowleaf Balsamroot

After a long walk through the woods, the shoreline path leads to an open area with a clearer view of the bay. I love the clouds in this photo.

Just a few steps farther along the path, I could get a better view of this rather barren hillside. A wildfire burned it several years ago, but the green growth is gradually returning.

Soon I was back to the parking lot where I had left my vehicle. Light rain began to fall as I drove home, so the timing of my walk was perfect. It rained all afternoon, all night, and half of Monday. At least I don't have to worry about watering anything!

Thanks to @tattoodjay for the Wednesday Walk Challenge!

All photos taken on my Android phone.