Wandering through Time and Place

Exploring the world with Curtis and Peggy Mekemson
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    • When Scary Trees Live in Your Neighborhood… A Walk on the Wild Side: Part 1

      Posted at 5:00 am by Curt Mekemson
      Apr 27th
      From the beginning we declared this the Hobbit Tree. Look carefully and you can see Smaug sweeping out of the sky on a mission of vengeance.

      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:

      Smaug stares down at us from the Hobbit tree.
      This is the Evil Seal tree, definitely resembling a gargoyle.
      Here’s a close up, complete with vacant eye socket and a grinning, tooth-filled mouth. “Come closer, my dear. Let me whisper in your ear.” Chomp.
      This eyeless buck with its twisted horns also borders on evil. I may cover the nose in red come next Christmas.
      And here is where the werewolf hangs out on the upper right. I’m sure we hear him howling on moonless nights.
      Maybe not so scary, but still… the elephant. Interesting eyebrow, or is that a cap.
      The Brain!
      A gaping maw. It would take a brave (or foolish) person to stick her hand into it! “You first,” Peggy suggested.
      A great tree to be perched on the edge of a graveyard in a horror movie. The snake-like creature coming out of the tree is preparing to strike.Why am I thinking Voldemort?
      An even better graveyard tree! Perfect for a dark and stormy night.
      And finally, I will leave you with this lovely creature born out of fire. Make what you will out of it!

      WEDNESDAY’S POST: Lots of pretty posies.

      Posted in At Home in Oregon | Tagged scary trees on the Upper Applegate of Oregon, scary white oak trees, Walking durning the coronavirus, White oak trees
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