The mountain valley, which in spring had appeared lush with

The mountain valley, which in spring had appeared lush with tall grass, but grew brown as the frigid arctic weather moved south in October.

A) valley, which in spring had appeared lush with tall grass, but grew

B) valley had appeared lush with tall grass and grew

C) valley which in spring had appeared lush with tall grass grows

D) valley in the spring appeared lush with tall grass, but has grown

E) valley, which in spring had appeared lush with tall grass, grew

I like D. Usually sentences having the word "which" (pronoun) I am quite vary of.... (according to Kaplan)!!!.D seems to be plain and simple and less wordy. "has grown" means it has already happened with the weather moving South in October. B does not have the words in Spring so I would eliminate it as the comparison of the grass color is being done in the backdrop of the climatic conditions.