FLOWER: Get a whiff at Farragut

Syringa, the Idaho State Flower, along with the cascading ocean spray is in full bloom in many areas of Farragut State Park, especially the shoreline. Now is a perfect time for a cool shaded walk in the park along Lake Pend Oreille to enjoy this summertime treat.

Syringa is also called mock orange for its lovely aroma. Sadly many of the trails that were canopied with ocean spray and syringa have been cut. Timber and game managers call the mature bushes that rise more than 10 feet tall and provide security and home to nesting birds and small mammals “decadent” scrubs.

I call them amazingly beautiful, scenic, natural, recreation resources that fill the forests of Farragut with intoxicating perfume. The shoreline logging plan will turn the trails into haul roads and literally slash and burn this beautiful display into extinction, replacing it with hot dry grass and 30 Ponderosa Pine trees per acre.

Get out and enjoy it while you can. And please call the park and let them know timber management is not park management.

MIKE LEE

Farragutpark.org