Green Spring: The effect of one of the wettest winters in years

The winter was mild and the snow was thin, but it kept coming, clear until 19 June. The photo below is a view from our roof looking west.

In its aftermath, a carpet of green on the all-too-often desolate mountains surrounding this ancient city once renown for its forests of pine.

In an attempt to pacify his guests' disappointment of a cancelled buzkashi match (Afghan-style polo), one of the Faculty professors proposed a trek with his family up the mountains abutting his backyard. No well-worn paths marked our way forward, we were each allowed to trample on what lay before us, the fragile and flailed plants, and the loose and easily dislodged gravel & boulders. Even the plant-life is born for adversity: if not devoured by insects & animals, if not desiccated by the sun & wind, the wandering uproots it as a curio.

The most predominate plant on the mountain slope was a tender succulent with a towering floral stalk, reminiscent of a bolting head of lettuce. Below are both the landscape view and a close up, also including our resident trekking guides!