The Abandoned: Wild Flowers of The Abandoned

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Wild Flowers of The Abandoned - Pink Saturday

Sissy and I were amazed. Before last summer, neither she, no I had seen pink blackberry blossoms before--but here they were, in The Abandoned.

This is a star flower which is so lovely next to those delicate leaves.

Here is a summertime flower from the parking lot--it's a lamb's ear.

Happy Pink Saturday to all. For more wonderful things in pink, visit Beverly at How Sweet The Sound!

WARNING: Those who come here without permission risk arrest for trespassing.

4 comments:

Lois said...: They are all so pretty!; March 26, 2011 at 8:37 AM
Light and Voices said...: Seeing your wild flower posted this week brought a song to my heart. I tried growing lamb's ear two times and failed. Perhaps I should check on the growing zone. Aren't they lovely?
HPS!
Joyce M; March 26, 2011 at 9:50 AM
Arabella said...: So pretty - I've never seen pink blackberry either, how beautiful!

Happy PINK Saturday...hope you're having a lovely weekend :O)

I'm a new follower from http://SallyLeeByTheSea.com; March 26, 2011 at 10:14 AM
Clytie said...: I had never seen pink blackberry blossoms before either - until a few years ago. And I truly love that lamb's ear. Such gorgeous deep pink!; March 26, 2011 at 10:48 AM

The Abandoned

Years ago, I dedicated this blog to The Abandoned, a huge complex of abandoned buildings in rural Oregon.

Surrounded by wetlands and old growth timber, The Callahan Center was built in the 1970's by the State of Oregon as a rehabilitation center for people recovering from injuries on the job.

In 1992, the property was bought by a mega church. However, the Living Enrichment Center closed in 2004, amidst financial scandal and the property was abandoned.

The buildings stood empty for many years. Over that span the property was vandalized and looted. Yet the beauty of its rare architecture shone through the shambles of abuse and disrepair.

In the summer of 2013, the complex was completely demolished. We were all sad to see the buildings go, but because of trespassers and vandals, it was necessary to take them down.

The area where The Abandoned once stood is filled with $500,000 mushroom houses (homes built so fast they pop up like mushrooms) built on postage stamp lots. There are sidewalks and tall lamps where I once watched the foxes of the field leaping above the grass, hunting rodents.

The surrounding woodlands still survive. It is my prayer the wetlands and forests with their pristine creeks, native trees and flowers, as well as the wildlife which shelter there, will be protected.