snippets of landscape – evidence of old roads
This week, we drove to the south-west corner of the province and spent a little time at the Ganong Nature and Marine Park, at Todd’s Point near St. Stephen. The area is managed by the Quoddy Futures Foundation and is the former property of Eleanor and Whidden Ganong (Whidden Ganong was President of the Ganong Bros. candy factory in St. Stephen). The property is beautiful and good for the soul. We walked through the fields, identified wildflowers, listened to the birdsong, and were returned to a simpler time.
The fields along the path were yellow with Buttercup (Ranunculus sp.) and the largest population of Yellow Rattle (Rhinanthus Crista-galli L.) I have ever seen. The flowers of the Yellow Rattle were bright yellow, but the inflated calyx was tinged with red, giving the field a stippled glow (for more information on Yellow Rattle, see my post for August 3, 2011, ‘along the country road #1’ ).
Yellow Rattle among the field flowers… the fused sepals are tinged and veined with red
The Buttercups were everywhere, but concentrated in certain areas of the field. One area in particular seemed to mark the path of an abandoned road. The Buttercups have found some aspect of the old road to their liking. Perhaps the soil is compacted and they have a competitive ‘edge’ on the other plants. Perhaps the hidden track provides some alteration in the water regime or a place where certain types of seeds concentrate as they are dispersed. Perhaps there are subtle differences in the soil chemistry.
an abandoned track marked in Buttercups… the red tint in the foreground is from the reddish coloration of the Yellow Rattle
Years ago, I visited a property where the roadway to a back field was clearly marked with Bluets (Houstonia caerulea L.). The owner of the property said he thought they grew there because he always took his lime in an open cart back to his fields, and enough had spilled to make the way especially attractive to the Bluets.
Perhaps you will have a look in your landscape for wildflower clues to past activities.
~
~
Invitation to Tea
~
in the afternoon,
I huddle over tea
and watch
the road
~
an old road,
rarely used –
walks scarcely part
the tangle of fern
~
I scan the woods,
I love the look
of ancient trunk
and horizontal green
~
and always,
in the corner of my eye,
the road
~
overgrown –
a narrow course of saplings
intercepts
the sameness
of maturity
~
I watch
expectantly
~
but the road is abandoned –
cart-tracks worn
to rivulets,
culverts buried
by fallen leaves,
rusted oil tins,
depressions in the mould
~
~
© Jane Tims 2012
nichepoetryandprose 
Just found this post. This is fascinating – I shall take more note on my next walk. Love the poem too.
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dianajhale
July 18, 2012 at 5:55 am
Hi. Thanks. There are layers and layers to the world around us. Jane
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jane tims
July 18, 2012 at 6:35 am
Never even thought or considered that paths or ancient activity could be marked out like this – it’s incredibly poetic – I’ve only noticed the dull dry grass where paths used to be…
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whistlesinthewind
June 24, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Hi. Following old, forgotten paths is very poetic. Jane
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jane tims
June 29, 2012 at 8:30 pm
Very cool that the buttercups seem to trace a road! Things change, in surprisingly short periods of time.
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Watching Seasons
June 19, 2012 at 7:21 pm
Hi. I am going to see if I can find other examples of vegetation tracing out the patterns of human existence. Jane
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jane tims
June 19, 2012 at 10:34 pm
I too am called to old roads. Love the buttercup image. such abundance. Lovely work.
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seedbud
June 18, 2012 at 9:21 pm
Hi. When I was in High school, one of my teachers had us research the location and find an old abandoned stage-coach route. I loved the project and I have loved abandoned roads ever since. Jane
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jane tims
June 19, 2012 at 6:43 am
Thank you for this new insight, Jane. I had never thought about concentrations of wildflowers as being clues to past human (or other) activity. I’ll carry that new viewpoint with me from now on. And lovely poem.
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Jane Fritz
June 17, 2012 at 8:43 am
Hi Jane. Thanks! Just one more way to look at our ‘natural’ world! Jane
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jane tims
June 18, 2012 at 7:21 am
Great images and poem Jane, loved the post.
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dfb
June 17, 2012 at 4:40 am
Hi. Thanks! Jane
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jane tims
June 17, 2012 at 7:31 am
On our outing last Saturday the path to the cabin was marked with wild strawberries! It was curious how they grew only in the path creating a center isle.
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snowbirdpress
June 16, 2012 at 2:57 pm
Hi. I think there are lots of examples out there! Thanks for this example… a tasty one later in the year…. Jane
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jane tims
June 16, 2012 at 5:54 pm
I love it! The plants keep telling stories, long after the original action has ceased. Wonderful!
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weedimageoftheday
June 16, 2012 at 1:04 pm
Hi. It’s what you tell us all the time with your stories about the weeds! I think the concept extends a long way into the past… I know they use aerial photos in archaeology to see what past is revealed by the landscape. Jane.
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jane tims
June 16, 2012 at 5:52 pm
Thank you Jane. Our world is certainly so fascinating! I’m glad we can see at least a portion of the wonders.
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weedimageoftheday
June 18, 2012 at 1:28 am
Hi. As you have pointed out, those weeds are wonderful!!! Jane
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jane tims
June 18, 2012 at 7:24 am
Lovely poem and images, Jane. I wondered about the reddish glow in the fields when we were driving through the provinces. And the buttercups! They seem to be having a good year everywhere. I haven’t paid attention enough to see if there are patterns to their growth. I will do that now. Thank you. 🙂
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Robin
June 16, 2012 at 7:31 am
Hi Robin. I am so glad you were able to see New Brunswick first-hand!!! Jane
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jane tims
June 16, 2012 at 8:02 am