Impression Evergreen

A blue deluge Flowing down from the wilds of Minnesota, the Cedar River winds its way through central Iowa and joins the Iowa River just before emptying into the mighty Mississip. The voluminous waterway streams through the heartland at a fairly fast clip as the swift current is not something you want to underestimate. The adjacent, fertile valley is distinguished by dark-forested hills and vast fields of corn. Back in the old days they called it the Red Cedar River because of the abundance of those junipers that thrive on the limestone cliffs overlooking the blue deluge. One evening while we were up in Waverly, we walked along the Cedar and were astonished by the diverse variety of colorful wildflowers that decorated the pathway. At Mount Vernon, a steep stairwell escorted the explorers down to the water’s edge where the Cedar’s true power was revealed. The American Midwest is a fascinating region to visit, characterized by high humidity, verdant hues and afternoons embroil...

A washed landscape On a soggy, spring morning at Evergreen Lake, a steady rain came pouring down out of the slate-blue sky. The relentless drizzle soaked anyone resolved enough to stray outside in the drenched domain. The surrounding mountains were shrouded in a dense mist that blocked the early morning sunlight. The water’s smooth surface was broken by raindrops that created small ripples in the silky reflections. The pleasant reservoir was formed 90 years ago when Bear Creek was dammed just above the old downtown. This time of year there’s a furious deluge that flows over the modest spillway. On such a dreary day there wasn’t much wildlife to be seen but there were some bird species that seemed to thrive in the wet weather. Red-winged blackbirds didn’t miss a beat and the Canada geese were out in full force. Near the shoreline, a few fat goslings tried to stay dry by nestling under their mother’s outstretched wing. A colorful kingfisher buzzed about while a hooded mergan...

Flooded Bear Creek in Evergreen, Colorado "Be thou the rainbow in the storms of life. The evening beam that smiles the clouds away, and tints tomorrow with prophetic ray." ~ Lord George Gordon Byron Colorado has suffered from a horrendous drought for about fourteen years. The summers are hot and arid while the winters have been cold and dry. With less snowfall in the high country, lakes and reservoirs are parched from record-low water levels. Trees are dying and the aged pine forests are like giant matchsticks waiting to be struck. After an early outbreak of devastating wildfires, it looked as though the summer was going to be another scorcher. Then in mid-July something strange happened. We started getting daily, afternoon thunder showers. August in Evergreen was cool and wet. Dependable rainfall satisfied the thirsty aspen and produced abundant wildflowers. Everything was perfect in the mountains, again. So when it started raining on Tuesday afternoon, September ...