On a day with a reprieve from the smoke, I paddled Edith Lake, enjoying a morning paddle, stopping along the way to inspect plants and animals.

Water smartweed (Polygonum amphibium sp.) bloomed in shallow bays with their floating leaves and knot-like pink flowers.

A few wind-shaped douglas fir trees stood by the side of the lake.

I was fortunate to get a photo of a muskrat by the shore.    They often hide in the foliage or under the water.

Along the lake were blackbirds, wrens, and spotted sandpipers.   On the shore were many slender hawkweed (Crepsis sp.) flowers.

A few chicory flowers had not yet dried out in the drought conditions.