Erected along the grassy shoreline, a statuesque heron hunts discreetly in the evening light. The virtuous, great blue displays extraordinary patience while stalking prey in the muddy shallows.

It’s barely spring at Evergreen Lake so there’s not much activity except for an occasional ruckus raised by the red-wings. While I was in the vicinity, I never witnessed the great blue take a stab at anything edible so I hope she wasn’t overly famished.

Crumpled under heavy snow for most of the winter, the dusky marshland is slowly creeping back to life. Most of the barren trees are just now starting to sprout buds at the tips of their limber branches.

The surrounding mountains are impressive as ever after shedding their white blanket. The ring of high hills creates a sequestered valley enclosing an Edenic landscape bursting with both flora and fauna.

Because of the dramatic cloud cover, fading rays of sunshine strike the slopes at unusual angles. The peaks appear to glow, creating an inviting ambiance that hasn’t been experienced in months.

It’s getting late and as the hour slips into the blue, that heron is still frozen in place but now she’s almost imperceptible in the dark. After such a long time trudging through deep snow, it’s nice to meander on firm ground and rediscover the lake during its annual resurrection.

Stalking prey in the shallows
A statuesque heron
Hunting discreetly
Red-wings raise a ruckus
An inviting ambiance
Trees are still barren
Fading rays of sunshine
A dusky marshland
An annual resurrection