Before finding the blue curls yesterday, I walked a bit of Gate 35, Old North Main Street in the disenfranchised former town of Dana, Massachusetts-one of the four towns flooded to create the Quabbin Reservoir. It’s one of my favorite hikes of the 52 or so Quabbin Gates which are mostly old dirt roads.
I’ve posted images from the shoreline here in the past and the occasional bit of driftwood. Yesterday one stump in particular grabbed my interest and there will be a couple of posts with different views.
It will be interesting in future visits to see if either of these colonizers is successful.
I especially like the warmth of the ruddy tone with the almost burnt look of the outer wood.
Stephen Gingold Nature Photography Blog 
That’s a path I would love to walk.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Especially if it leads to an abstract tree stump.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Especially.
LikeLiked by 1 person
The arboreal archway in the first photo, combined with the light in the clearing and the rise in the road beyond it, are so inviting. Just for grins, I checked the weather for Quabbin Hill, and found the current temperature at 69F, with a projected high of 88F. Lucky you.
The second photo’s a wonderful example of what I call accidental gardens. It’s especially nice that different plants have emerged; it adds a good bit of interest.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Lucky us indeed. The forecast was for low 90’s with humidity giving it a feel of over 100. We didn’t make it to 88, at least not as of 3:30 p.m.
I am glad you noted the archway. I tried several compositions using the trees to get the effect. I will admit to using a vignette to heighten the contrast between the near trees and the opening.
The driftwood was not on my mind at all when I walked onto the shore. But it grew on me and tomorrow’s post will show it off even better, I think. If they survive the winter possibly both will successfully colonize the woody perch and anoint it a “nurse stump”.
LikeLiked by 2 people
The reddish-orange bark is a nice complement to the greenery. Do you know what the plants are that have taken hold?
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was very happy to see the red. It almost makes it look like the interior is on fire. Possibly the grass is crab grass. The other, I believe, is young buttonbush.
LikeLike
That is a photograph I likely would not have seen. And it would have been my loss. Great eye seeing it and creating a really nice composition out of it. The red works very nicely with the green.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Todd. For years closeups were my main emphasis and it took a while for landscapes to catch up. Now I don’t seem to have an emphasis, or specialty, at all but just careen from one subject to another. Variety is good, I guess.
LikeLike
A beauty. And the grass with drops on – Love the archway and the road winding away.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a wonderful old dirt road and a nice comfortable hike. I was happy with the drops. Thanks, Ann-Christine. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Steve, these are both stunning, beautifully balanced and so inviting. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Lynn. ’twas a good day. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person