The Abandoned: Japanese Rose -Guest Heart Thursday

Thursday, April 25, 2013

Japanese Rose -Guest Heart Thursday

The camellia bush where this lovely flower blossomed is as tall as a house. I know this is a camellia, but I love its other name--the Japanese rose. Last Spring, Dad made me take armfuls of these beautiful flowers home with me. It is a sweet memory which I hold dear. I will always love this flower because of Daddy.

For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday.

WARNING: If you visit The Abandoned without permission, you risk getting arrested for trespassing. Please be careful. Since the buildings have been demolished, some question the presence of surveillance cameras. Don't assume there aren't cameras in place. Individuals who come onto the property without permission, should know the owners are VERY serious about identifying trespassers.

3 comments:

Maria said...: It looks more of a rose for me.

I am not really familiar with camelia though...; April 25, 2013 at 9:01 AM
Clytie said...: I agree with Maria ... it does indeed looks like a rose - even though I KNOW it's a camelia since the tree is right outside the front window!!!

Sigh.; April 25, 2013 at 5:13 PM
Laura said...: what a wonderful memory, and beautiful, beautiful blossom!; April 26, 2013 at 6:12 AM

Post a Comment

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.