Tree house

Along Berry Road, there are a number of very old trees, here at least since the 1840s when they were left in place to mark the survey lines when the area was opened to settlers from Europe, people like Tom's mother's ancestors. In addition to those trees, there are other large and gnarled ones that fascinate me, looking like they were made to illustrate books for Halloween or a trendy design for a t-shirt.

One such interesting tree is an oak right at the entrance to Rich and Peggy's place. Here are a couple of pictures of the side that faces the road.

The tree looks strong and green from this side, but the other side is a different story.

Peggy and I both think the greenery growing inside the base make it look like a place for fairies or some such creature. Sort of Celtic-looking, don't you think?

It is a lovely sight, though, in its decay, prettier than you would guess from this photo. I keep trying to get Tom to take a picture with his good camera ...

The thing that interests me most is the way the wood has been eaten away inside by insects or decay so that up close it looks like the side of a cliff, filled with caves or little monastic cells. Or apartments for the fairies.

 We assume some storm will take the tree down eventually, or safety concerns may force it to be taken down earlier. But for now, it is one of the sights I enjoy as I wander our road and visit our neighbors.