Gnarly Oak in The Abandoned

Here is another of the ancient oaks found in the forests surrounding what once was The Abandoned.  I adore oak trees--They are like dear old Grandpas.  I still hug them when I can.  This picture was taken early last Spring.

With our record rainfall, the moss is growing thick and green on the trees.  The forest is a magical place right now.  though the leaves are gone it is beautiful.

Have a lovely day, sweet Friends!

In the Green of the Forest

Here is a wonderful old tree found in the outskirts of what was once The Abandoned.  The forest is still untouched--yet I fear that may not last long.  There are now parcels of land for sale along the tip of the Canyon.  The forest as we knew it may not survive.  In the meantime, here is this old man tree in the green of the forests of my childhood. 

Walking the Forests of my Childhood

In the canyons which surround what once was The Abandoned, one can find among the old fragrant cedar trees, these giant oaks.  They have been alive for hundreds of years. 

Once my sister and I saw a mountain lion sleeping in the branches about three stories up.  These trees are home to all kinds of wildlife.  I love them.  These big old Oak trees remind me of dear wrinkled grandfathers.  I like to hug them.

There are castles in the woods nearby--festooned with moss, the fairies and elves must love living here.

Have a lovely day, dear Friends. 

Lichen This Heart -Guest Heart Thursday

How amazing to find such exquisite detail in such a tiny bit of lichen.  This heart is smaller than a pencil eraser!  I like the contrast of limb, moss and lichen. The heart is perfect for Guest Heart Thursday!

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

White Lichen Heart -Guest Heart Thursday

Isn't this a lovely collection of lichen and moss?  I especially like the little white lichen heart.  With all the rain we've had over the last few months, the moss and such are thriving in all their plush glory.  I wish you could see the beauty of the Forests of my childhood.  

It is magical there.  Have a lovely weekend and Happy Guest Heart Thursday!

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

In the Woodlands

The old maples found in canyons surrounding The Abandoned are spectacular.  I often wonder about the things they may have seen over the hundreds of years they have been growing here.

There are enchanted stumps in these forests.  This one looks as like a doorway into an enchanted castle.

And here a window in what is obviously a fairy condo.

This lovely green thistle grew along the road just before the path to Deer Valley.  What a magical place.  I often think of the privilege we had as children--living here, playing here...what a beautiful place for imaginative children to live and play.

WARNING: You shouldn't visit The Abandoned without permission from the owner or caretaker. If you do, you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Green and Grey - Guest Heart Thursday

With all this rain, the well-watered moss and lichen stretches over trees, branches, cement walls, railings and stairways.  I happened to catch this heart, left in the wake of that mossy green growing.  It is all a part of the magic of The Abandoned.

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

 

WARNING: You shouldn't visit The Abandoned without permission from the owner or caretaker. If you do, you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Heart on a Rail - Guest Heart Thursday

The Abandoned has many pathways, some cleared, some not.  One of my favorite places to walk is a forgotten foot path where a rustic wooden bridge crosses the old waterway.  It leads to the strawberry trees just beyond. It is a truly magical and lovely place.  I don't know of anywhere else where strawberry trees grow.


As Sissy and I walked that lonely path, I found this green mossy Heart on a Rail.
 
For more heart art, photography and altogether fabulous heart stuff from around the world, visit Clytie at Random Hearts for Guest Heart Thursday!

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Mossy Heart - Guest Heart Thursday

This wonderful mossy heart came from the top of a cement hand rail.  What I didn't notice until I got home, is the white color fraying the ends of the moss, is actually tiny glistening water drops. You can see this better if you click for the larger view.

There is always something magical and beautiful to be found in The Abandoned.

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

WARNING: Think twice about visiting The Abandoned without permission. You risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Under Glass - Weekend Reflections

This looks like an underwater shot complete with seaweed!  However, this is actually a tiny piece of broken glass no bigger than my thumb, pressed against the moss where it had fallen.  I thought it perfect for Weekend Reflections.

For more wonderful reflections from around the world, be sure to visit James at Weekend Reflections.

WARNING: If you visit The Abandoned, without permission from the owners, or the caretaker, you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Tree Contortions

A moss covered triangle caught my eye in the early spring Sunshine.

A giant tree spider traipsed through the forest, high above our heads.

This tree with mossy swing branch is much too tall to sit in these days--but when we were children we would sit and swing here.

One can find the most beautiful trees and mosses in the forests near The Abandoned.
 
WARNING: If you visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owner, or caretaker before you come, otherwise you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Mossy Castle - Guest Heart Thursday

When Mom was a little girl the old growth trees were harvested leaving bare brown hills and the canyon.  But over the years, nature restored its beauty with a passion.  Huge fir and cedar trees were already in place when my siblings and I played on the wide tops of those huge old growth stumps.  They became imaginary castles.  Leaning from the largest stump, grasping the limber branches of the vine maple bowing overhead, we would swing across the small trickling stream. Ah, what adventures we had!

Now these stumps are covered with moss and delicate with age.  The bare feet of childhood's past would not be able to step here.  Can you find the large mossy heart on the side of the stump?

I find a sort of unearthly beauty about the grace of the mosses and fern one finds in the lands near The Abandoned.

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, be sure to get permission from the owner, or caretaker before you come, otherwise you risk getting arrested for trespassing.

Mossy Heart in The Abandoned - Guest Heart Thursday

Sissy and I enjoy our long walks through The Abandoned and the surrounding forests.  When walking around the edges of The Abandoned, it is as though Sleeping Beauty's castle might lie beyond those blackberry vined boundaries.

Indeed, it was startling to see this heart in moss--let alone an outline of one.  But to find such an unusual heart is a part of the magic of The Abandoned.  One never knows what one might find walking through those lonely deserted buildings and pathways.

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

WARNING: If you intend to visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owners first. If you do not have permission, you may be arrested and prosecuted for trespassing.

Heart of Glass

This shiny little heart is smaller than a fingertip.  Sissy and I were walking along a pathway in The Abandoned where shards of glass from the shattered windows lie everywhere--I was startled when I spotted this tiny heart gleaming from its bed of moss. 

Beauty can be found nearly anywhere!

For more wonderful hearts from around the world, check out Guest Heart Thursday at Clytie's wonderful blog, Random Hearts!
 
NOTE: If you intend to visit The Abandoned, be sure to get permission from the owners first. If you do not have permission and are caught, you will be arrested and prosecuted for trespassing.