The Verdance

[vaneramos]

A week ago Monday, the girls and I made a pilgrimage to a place I call The Verdance. It isn't far from our cottage, in fact it's just a short scramble through the undergrowth across the road, however flies and mosquitoes often deter us from going there. It is dense and dark, with massive hemlocks obscuring a granite cliff encrusted with moss and lichen.

The ground below is strewn with fallen trunks and flooded with an ephemeral stream. Ferns grow in deep shade. The predominant elements are earth and water.

We like to climb the rockface. The forest at the top consists largely of hemlocks, too, but is open and breezy, offering glimpsed vistas over Lake Fletcher. The soil is dry and soft, covered with different kinds of mosses, dappled with sunlight through the broken canopy. We find owl pellets on the ground. The predominant elements are air and fire.

To me it is sacred, a word I use differently than my dictionary suggests. I mean awesome and peace-inducing.

The Verdance is difficult to photograph, it is so complex and overgrown, but I like these two photos of my daughters on our trek.

The place is part of the inspiration for the garden beside our cottage. During the week, Brenna and I brought back a few pieces of moss and some flat stepping stones to add to our landscape.




Brenna




Marian

Comments

[shawnsyms.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing these words and pictures.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

You're most welcome.

[ciddyguy.livejournal.com]

Thanks for sharing Van,

That Verdance sounds wonderful, even if hard to get to and all.

It's obvious that you are proud of your daughters and are lucky to be spending the quality time with them. This time in their lives only comes once in a lifetime. Enjoy it while you can.

[ghostsandrobots.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous. We got your postcard; thanks! These are wonderful postcards, too.

[art-thirst.livejournal.com]

I've missed you. Your time away most certainly was in a good place. Peace & love.

[dakoopst.livejournal.com]

Oooo....LOVE the tattoo-like shadows shot...

[robearal.livejournal.com]

I've said it before, but I'll say it again. I love northern woods and miss them terribly. Thank you for bringing it into my life again, if only vicariously.

I agree with dakoopst. The hemlock shadows would make a great tattoo. A nice feminine statement. Calm, ordered nature instead of the bold, harsh, curves and angles of the now-too-common tribal motifs.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Indeed, childhood slips away quickly.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Glad you enjoyed. I heard the first cicada of summer one day at the cottage, but forgot to write down the date.

[ubermunkey.livejournal.com]

both are great pics for different reasons altogether. thanks for sharing these

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I'm delighted to be spending more time at the cottage this summer than last year. It's good to hear from you.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

A tattoo is exactly what I thought of when I noticed the shadow falling on her arm. If I ever get one, it might look something like this.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I'm delighted to be able to share it with you. If you ever travel this way, we must try to do get outdoors together.

I once saw a man with a tattoo of a vine that appeared over one shoulder and curled around his chest. I would like one like that. These shadows made me think of it.

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

Always happy to share.

Hugs,
Van

Word Smith

[perkk.livejournal.com]

Well said and nice pictures. I sometimes forget nature in my day to day blur. Things like this help remind me what's important. Thank You

Re: Word Smith

[vaneramos.livejournal.com]

I certainly enjoy sharing my view of nature. You're very welcome.