Late summer lilypads cover the Lake of the Damsel, otherwise known as Llyn-y-Forwyn (Welsh) or Darran Lake to the locals (as it is located in Darran Park/Parc Darran in Ferndale, south Wales.) Summer is

As seen from across the valley, the town of Ferndale in south Wales, also known as Pontyberry in Stella on TV. Despite the usual rain, Ferndale occasionally gets glorious sunny days. (Image available at

Another glorious summer view of Llyn-y-Forwyn, or the Lake of the Damsel in Darran Park, Ferndale, south Wales. (Image available at RedBubble and ImageKind) Lori Aberle Hopkins – photographer at Viking

A summer view of Llyn-y-Forwyn, or the Lake of the Damsel in Darran Park, Ferndale, south Wales. Although it does rain more there than anywhere else I've lived, we still had some glorious days where the

One warm May day, I took the trip up the valley to Maerdy, the next town up the river from us. The cherry trees were beautiful on this day! (Image available at RedBubble and ImageKind) (Image available

One winter morning as I walked up the hill, I spied this gap in the stone wall and had a great view of Ferndale below and across the valley. (Image available at RedBubble and at ImageKind) Lori Aberle

Rhododendrons are one of my favorite flowers with their huge gaudy blooms in the late spring/early summer. This particular rhody was in Darran Park (Parc Darran in Welsh) in Ferndale, Wales. (Image available

Next to Llyn-y-Forwyn in Parc Darran in Ferndale, south Wales, is a beautiful little wood. In the summer, with the sun shining through the trees it is simply mysterious and entrancing. (Image available

Maerdy and Ferndale lie at the north edge of the valley of the Rhondda Fach (as opposed to the Rhondda Fawr up the split to the west.) Below Porth, the river is one, the Rhondda, as the water hurries towards

On a hill above the park and playground is a historic house with a bit of a past... At first, it looks warm and inviting, especially in the summer sun. (Image available at RedBubble and ImageKind ) In