Picture of the day - March 7, 2006

A Mountain Stream Near Taylors Valley, VA

There are plenty of wonderful sights, sounds and smells tucked away among the southwestern Virginia hills and "hollers" where I grew up, and many of them are in and around mountain streams. Cool, clear spring water makes its way down the rocky mountainsides and the narrow hollers, providing drinking water for the wildlife and beauty for all of us to enjoy. Some of my favorite childhood memories take me back to a simpler time when I used to walk for hours on end through the mountain forests of the Widener Valley and Damascus, Virginia areas. I loved to "hunt" wild American ginseng, and I spent countless hours walking up and down dark hollers looking for sprigs of that "Appalachian Gold". I would often get so thirsty that when I inevitably came across one of the many clear mountain streams I would fold a broad leaf into a "cup" and drink away. That mountain water always tasted sooooo good going down! My "seng huntin'" days are long over, but I still love the beauty, serenity and elixir-type qualities of a mountain stream and the cool, clear water that flows within it. There is something about the sight and sound of a mountain stream cascading over moss-covered boulders and rushing under fallen logs that a back-yard water garden simply cannot match. They truly are treats for the senses and tonic for the soul. Today's picture features one of these beautiful Appalachian mountain streams, complete with waterfall. If you're so inclined, you can find it in the woods not far from the picturesque community of Taylors Valley, Virginia.   Picture Of The Day Homepage | Submit a photo Interesting Articles