Entergy Park offers easy view of vibrant flowering plants
Outdoor writer and photographer Corbet Deary is featured regularly in The Sentinel-Record. Today, Deary writes about the wild plants at Entergy Park.
I have covered Entergy Park several times throughout the years, and for good reason. I have mentioned the picnic facility on occasion. The park is a great destination, as the grounds are well-kept and family friendly.
Located within minutes of downtown Hot Springs and on the banks of Lake Hamilton, the park has much to offer. It’s not uncommon to see folks gathering at the picnic sites, and the fishing pier seems to be a popular destination for those wishing to wet a hook.
The playground equipment lends to an opportunity for parents to bring their children to a safe environment and there is certainly something to be said for its aesthetic beauty.
Although the aforementioned characteristics deem the facility well worthy of mention, I most appreciate the trail system running within its perimeters. In fact, nine short inner-connecting loops provide folks within the neighborhood of 2.5 miles of trail.
My wife, Sandy, and I reside less than 10 minutes from Entergy Park. In turn, I have traversed these trails many times. However, all of my journeys along the designated route have been via my mountain bike, until recently, when Sandy and I decided to embark upon a pleasant hike.
Although I know the trail well, little did I realize how much I had been missing from the seat of my bike. As an I intermediate rider, I must focus on the path in front of me as a means of self-preservation.
But I truly enjoyed the opportunity to take in the scenery around me during our recent walk. And to say I was impressed with the number of wildflower species growing within feet of the trail would prove an understatement.
Beginning our walk directly across the road from the pavilion and parking area, we turned right and started an easy journey on a section of trail paralleling the road leading into the facility.
I noticed a small colony of lance-leafed coreopsis swaying in the wind within a few feet. But little did I know that the remainder of the trail would provide us with opportunities to admire a plethora of wildflower species.
We walked within a few feet of several larkspurs, just as the trail made a hard turn to the left and entered a denser forest. These specimens were impressive and in full bloom, painting the substrate with a pale purple hue.
We happened upon several horsemint plants as the path ran alongside the grade and through a stand of hardwoods. Although the petals of the early blooming plants had begun to darken and wilt, I imagined how vibrant they might have been only days prior. The path eventually made a hard left and traversed within feet of several more horsemint plants, before making a hard turn in the opposing direction and actually running alongside the path where our journey first began.
The trail entered a different section of woods shortly thereafter, providing a habitat for other plant species to thrive. In fact, we noticed the vibrant red blooms of a fire pink just before the trail made its way through a low-lying area and within feet of a colony of mandrakes. Although these plants had already dropped their large white flowers, some of the specimens sported large, green fruits.
The trail then made its way to a spot where we had to step across a recently fallen tree and began a slight ascent. Although impressed with the array of species we had seen thus far, I grew most excited upon noticing small purplish, brown blooms attached to a vine near the path’s edge.
I suppose climbing milkweeds are common throughout this section of the state. But this was one of few times that I have actually noticed their beautiful flowers. And I suppose the plant will be equally impressive when the flowers eventually go to seed.
Following the trail atop a knoll and through an open area, we walked alongside white-flowered milkweed. These blooms looked totally different from those on the milkweed vine. In fact, the white flowers were clustered in large clumps and sported faint purple central markings.
The yellow flowers of nearby coreopsis and the pink blooms of sweet williams added color to the overall scene. And then there was a large colony of Asiatic dayflowers taking root on the opposing side of the trail that demanded their fair share of attention.
These tall plants produce a small purplish blue flower that is impressive, to say the least. And it just so happened that this colony was in the midst of making a showing.
Although most interested in the plants taking root alongside the trail, I couldn’t help but dedicate a few minutes to watching the squirrels that were zipping to and fro and bounding from tree to tree.
We had noticed several bushytails during the walk, but these four seemed most eager to go noticed. They were obviously all accustomed to sharing their habitat with people. But one, in particular, appeared unconcerned with our presence.
The young squirrel bounded across the trail just a few feet in front of me and scurried up the trunk of a small tree within a foot or so of the beaten path. Practically within arm’s length, I savored the opportunity to get a bird’s-eye view of the specimen.
The trail ran alongside a chain-link fence for a short distance before making a turn and heading back into the woods and toward the lake’s shoreline. Running alongside a steep hillside and paralleling the shoreline for a distance, we didn’t see many wildflowers along this section of the path.
We did, however, notice a lone pale-purple coneflower taking root near the water’s edge. Although this particular species is very common throughout the state and can readily be seen growing along the highway’s edge, I still find them worthy of admiration.
The trail eventually ran alongside a gazebo and within feet of a boardwalk before crossing a small bridge spanning the back of a pocket. Again, there were few showy plants taking root along this section of the trail. But I did enjoy the opportunity to stop and watch several panfish hovering around a nearby submerged brushtop.
The path ran within sight of the Sunnybrook access to the lake just before making a hard left-hand turn and veering away from the water. This particular short section of trail made a slight ascent through an area that was bountiful with plants, including a few showy wildflowers.
The path then crossed a paved road within the facility and made a short jaunt through the picnic area and back to our vehicle. Our journey along the Entergy Park Trail was all but behind us. However, I was heading home with a new appreciation for a path that I had traversed many times before. And I would return to this destination in the near future with hopes of seeing other wildflower species that notoriously make a showing later in the season.
To get to Entergy Park, from Malvern Avenue, turn onto Carpenter Dam Road. Travel 2 miles and take a right onto Lakepark Drive. Go 100 feet and remain right on Lakepark drive. Go 250 more feet, turn left onto Entergy Park Lane and follow the road to the parking area.