Peggy and I continue to shelter in place and find ways of entertaining ourselves. One is to go for extended walks around our five acres and in the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest that abuts our property. Naturally, I carry my camera on these daily excursions and look for things of interest. I’ve done several posts on these ‘walks on the wild side’ over the last ten years. It’s time for another one.
Walking is one way that many of us are dealing with our extended home-stays. One doesn’t have to live next to a national forest. A local park that is still open, the neighborhood— almost anywhere that is safe— works. It gets us out of the house and it’s great exercise. Looking for things of interest adds to the fun. Peggy, for example, is infinitely curious about what the neighbors are up to. She is constantly urging me to go on detours to find out.
As I was going through my photos last week for this blog, I decided I had enough material for three posts. It’s all about weird trees today. On Wednesday I’ll feature the spring flowers that Peggy and I have found over the past few weeks, including one on the endangered species list. Friday will be pure nature as in who is doing what. For example is a bear living in the bear cave? Peggy makes me throw rocks into the cave to check before we venture in. I’m pretty sure that all that will do is irritate the bear, but I accommodate her wish. And I am sure you will want to help us figure out whether a cougar, bobcat, or coyote left the scat (poop) we found full of hair. How could you not?
But first the trees. A few years ago I decided to do a inventory of what trees grow on our property. White oaks were the most common. I counted over a hundred. For the most part, these are handsome representatives of the tree world— standing tall while providing shade in the summer and a plethora of acorns in the fall. Just about everyone joins in the harvest, or so it seems: deer, tree squirrels, ground squirrels, turkeys, bears, etc. We watch the deer play human and stand on hind legs to reach beyond where their imagination normally takes them. Ground squirrels leave the ground and can be seen precariously perched in the highest branches while they madly chomp away with sharp incisors to free acorns before the acorn woodpeckers arrive.
But not all of the white oaks stand proud and tall. Some are stubby and twisted, and ancient— almost scary. A little horror music please. They look like they could easily fit into your favorite scary flick, or a fantasy movie, or a nightmare. My post on last Friday where I featured gargoyles from Dubrovnik made me think of them. Here are some of our favorites:
WEDNESDAY’S POST: Lots of pretty posies.
21 thoughts on “When Scary Trees Live in Your Neighborhood… A Walk on the Wild Side: Part 1”
philosophermouseofthehedge
Trees with character…or are characters…rough ones out of self defense (and the living things they are guardians for, too Sigh such responsibility rooted there…)
Hey don’t laugh about the bears in the cave. We used to camp out in National Parks (before it was cool, just cheap vacation then) And when approaching those wooden shower structures without doors, we always toss rocks or knocked on walls and shouted “any bears in there?”…’cause sometimes there were!
Curt Mekemson
Guardian trees. I like it. Forest spirits packed away in old trunks.
I’m not laughing too hard, Phil. I always make lots of noise when I am backpacking through grizzly bear country. Bears don’t like to be surprised. They are likely to be even more grumpy when they are taking a shower. 🙂 –Curt
Animalcouriers
You have the creative mind to go with your trees 😉
Curt Mekemson
I.E. a little weird… Grin. Thanks, AC. I think. 🙂 –Curt
GP Cox
You do always locate the most unusual sights, Curt!! 🙂
Curt Mekemson
Or is it that they locate me, G? A bit of Twilight Zone music, please. 🙂
GP Cox
You got it!!
M.B. Henry
Um… I really do think there is an evil seal living in that tree!!
Curt Mekemson
Laughing. Pretty close, MB!
Alison and Don
Love these! Especially the seal and the werewolf.
Alison
Curt Mekemson
Both of them were pretty close to the real thing, Alison. 🙂 Thanks. –Curt
CompassAndCamera
Fun! Eyeless buck is my favorite because I also see a laughing jackrabbit in profile on the upper right!
Curt Mekemson
Now Have to go look for the jackrabbit! 🙂
Andrew Petcher
A great collection Curt. Well spotted!
Curt Mekemson
Thanks, Andrew. I always enjoy seeing what the trees have to say to me. 🙂 –Curt
Anne Clare
Thanks for the tour, Curt- what gorgeous, spooky trees!
Curt Mekemson
Thanks, Ann. I had fun running around capturing their spookiness. 🙂 –Curt
shoreacres
That gaping maw, and your comments about sticking your hand into it? That reminded me of the venerable practice of noodling for catfish in the south and midwest. There’s a good article here, but as it points out, noodling is nothing more than “finding a Catfish hiding underwater, sticking your arm in its mouth, and dragging it out of the water with your bare hands. You use your own fingers as bait and the Catfish’s bite as the hook.”
I’ll take your tree’s maw, thank you very much.
Curt Mekemson
My dad, when he was growing up in Iowa, caught the big river cats by hand, Linda. He said he had to bend them around his leg in order to bring them out. And when we were young we used to catch catfish nesting in their holes in the bank. We grabbed with our hands. Carefully! It wasn’t their bite that worried us, it was the stingers in the fins. A very big ouch! I could do the maw, but I would want a flashlight to shine in the hole first! 🙂 –Curt
Arati
It sounds like your walks provide you with opportunities for fun entertainment as well as just some plain ole ‘feel good ‘ time out in nature. I’ve been going for walks in the surrounding neighborhoods and the golf course which has been transformed into a park (since playing golf is not designated an essential activity/business), These walks are indispensable for my health and wellbeing!
May you and Peggy continue to be safe and well.
Curt Mekemson
Glad that you have the local golf course/ park for hikes, Arati. Peggy and I try to get out every day. Like you, it is essential for our well-being! Plus entertainment! 🙂 –Curt