Smoky Mountains Waterfalls & the Road to Nowhere

I went to the Smokies for my honeymoon...in 2011.  I did not start gardening until after our honeymoon.  I used to kill even the plastic plants.  Coming back, I have different "eyes."

One thing I noticed that the area yards had tons of diverse trees and shrubs.  Tons of willows....and tons of Knockout roses.

The Road to Nowhere is a long story, and when we asked in the past it was with a tension & vehemence that residents spoke of it.

I would go through the tunnel but I wouldn't go through the trails.  You are so focused on not falling off the narrow trails it's hard to enjoy the surroundings.  But I was so enamoured by all the colors of the trees.

The yellow, reds, oranges, pinks, and every shade imaginable.

I really take interest in what is growing wild.    I saw a ton of these flowers everywhere.

You see the narrowness of the trail.

The canopy of trees.

There are bears in the park, evidently.  So while on this treacherous trail, I made sure to watch for wildlife.  Including, the trees to see if any bear markings.  I have lived in cities as long as I have lived in the country.  I am always alert in both areas.  

I love this sign.  As if you need me to stay away 50 yards from a bear.  

This Juney Whank waterfall is the reason why I garden.   In my 20's, I was so in shape I had six pack abs....but when we went up this trail, the elderly with canes were beating me.  I huffed and puffed, and I told my husband that when we get back home, we are going to workout.

Our driveway is a quarter mile long, so we started walking it.  As we did, I started to notice all the eyesores on the property.  There was trash, broken down trailers, car axles, construction materials...mostly left over from when my husband purchased the property years ago.  So I asked for Christmas to remove all the trash, and that's where it all began.

We returned back in much better shape and much thinner......Next time we come, we will be in even better shape.

The waterfalls are beautiful.