Raging Waters & Delicate Flowers

 

After an evening of torrential rain, our little mountain stream is swelling and its whitewater is cascading down the slopes with a roar.  When we first visited what would become our mountain home, the stream was just a trickle and you could barely see it and couldn't hear it at all.  What a huge difference a winter of heavy snow and a spring of heavy rain made! 

 

In stark contrast, the rains have brought forth the most delicate flowers.  Our yard is filled with azaleas, now all in bloom ~  hot pink, salmon, lavender, so many different shades!  My very favorite azalea has pastel, light pink blooms that look so pretty against their emerald green leaves.

 

 

To deter the bears who had quickly become everyday visitors, we had to put away all of our bird feeders for at least a couple of weeks until the bears entirely lose interest.  I miss both the bears and the birds, but with so many different flowers in bloom, there's still so much natural beauty to enjoy.