Mountain Laurel Have Come and Gone, Summer is Here

The local mountain laurel really put on a show the last couple of weeks. Compared to last year, the blooms this year were abundant. I took a couple hikes in the woods to see the blooms, and to also ease some anxiety as American society felt like it was on the brink of collapse after the murder of George Floyd. Of course, the pandemic is also still in motion, so I did not stay long as more hikers have entered the woods for solace and exercise. The blooms were fantastic overall, and I consider them the gateway to summer. Warm, beautiful weather has come. Fireflys have just begun to come out in the evenings, toads sing at night, and we've had the occasional thunderstorm roll through in the afternoons and evenings. We had our last day of Zoom school yesterday, and now summer vacation is here, although it doesn't really feel like it. I had some hiking trips in mind for the summer but they have been canceled for the most part. So much uncertainty in the air these days. Just taking it one day at a time...