Positive signs and a grim reminder

Earlier this month I had an errand that took me to Mountain Shadows, the part of town that was devastated by the Waldo Canyon Fire four summers ago. Three hundred and forty-six homes were destroyed. Two of my friends lost their houses in the blaze, and another friend, Connie, very nearly lost hers as well. This photo was taken from directly behind her house. As you can see, the underbrush is returning, which is truly a welcome sight to see. But there are still no trees. Only charred skeletons of them remain, and it will likely be a century or more before the forest returns.