Mountain Laurel

Another flashback ... before we came to Texas I took a spur-of-the-moment hike in the Smokies. After a hot, dry two miles all uphill (in the shade, but no babbling brooks on this hike) I was rewarded with outstanding laurel groves in full bloom. Wow. A surprise, too. I did not expect the blooms there or even in May at all. Such a treat!