Yaddo Gardens

Summer is almost to an end - the dog days are almost over! If you're like me, and the sun and warm weather makes you depressed, that'll be great news. If you're not, then I figured I'd give one last summer adventure to this blog. The Yaddo Garden's are historical, bright, and delightful.

This picture to my left is of the Yaddo Mansion which is currently under restoration. It's a ghostly sight, which I enjoyed seeing, but I would have also liked to see the mansion in its full splendor. You can see the heavy stones at the base of the architecture, I can only imagine how outstanding it looks when it's not under construction. An eerie sight - but the rest of the gardens are the polar opposite.

This was the first fountain I saw here. The water is a crystal, bright, blue color. However it is dyed, though I'm not complaining. The fountain is an exquisite sight.

How did this all come to be though? Well, the Yaddo Gardens were the country estate of a writer, Katrina Trask, and her husband, Spencer Trask. In 1900, they founded "The Corporation of Yaddo." They actually left the estate to be a sort of solitude towards the artistic types of people.

I'll give you their exact words on their dreams for what would happen with the land..." “a rest and refreshment [for] authors, painters, sculptors, musicians and other artists both men and women, few in number but chosen for their creative gifts.” Katrina and Spencer were a lovely couple. They gave so much back to their community.

Here's the heavy, metal gate leading to the gardens. It's mostly for aesthetic because you could obviously just walk around it, but it does have a magical feel as you push the dense, swirled gate open and enter to see enchanting statues and lush vegetation.

Here's what you see when you first walk in. It's a vast and gorgeous sight to witness. The flowers are thick and full, and the grass is blinding with its bright green color. The trees surrounding the whole garden make it like a quiet sanctuary. Like a hidden, secret garden. I can see why artists would want to come here.

In 1926, the first guests were allowed to stay at the Yaddo estate. Katrina and Spencer were passed away at this time, but their dream to let artists and others alike stay there to get refreshed and inspired was alive. In fact, to this day there are still artistic guests invited to stay at the gardens. On their website, they say about 220 guest from around the world stay there a year. Obviously the Trask's legacy has lived on.

Many famous artists have stayed here. There is a variety of invited guests who have won a variation of awards, some awards being as big as the Noble Peace Prize.

 

There was a multitude of koi fish in this pond. There were three enormous ones swimming around. They kept hiding under lily pads when I'd get up close with my camera - I suppose they're camera shy.

One thing in particular that I thought was beautiful about the history here is that Katrina teamed up with Tiffany and Company in 1912 to construct a "Yaddo Medal." This medal was given to a graduating male and female at the local high school, Saratoga Springs High School, who showed advanced academic achievement and character. That tradition lives on to this day. It was started as an appreciation towards the Saratoga Springs Community - it seems Katrina truly loved this area and the people in it.

The vibrant flowers blend together with the abundant greenery all around. The statues fit in well to the scene. I'm temped to go back with my journal and sit on a bench and write in the serene area. That is what this place was meant for.

Here's a shot of the gates leading out. Th fountain is front and center when walking to the gardens, and right in front of the fountain is the mansion that's currently being worked on. So the mansion is to the left of the enormous fountain in the photo above this text.

Here is the beautiful stairway to what I call the Romeo and Juliet tower. It's a dazzling sight to be had.

At the top of the tower is a sun-dial that lays on top of a sculpture of almost what looks like a lions head and their feet.

Here is the overlook of the diversity of statues, flowers, greenery, and koi pond. The trees have created a fortress around the gardens. A wall of trees that are protecting paradise.

This was in the back of the gardens. A place closest to the mansion, but still publicly available. It remained quiet in this area, not many people went back here.

The mossy, stone fountain here sat in a shimmering, circular pond. It squirted out water like a blowhole on a whale.

The thick trees towering over everything was a perfect site. There's so much green vegetation everywhere, it even reflects off the water.

I love moon and stars symbols. Having them carved into this unique, wooden fence with stones on either side was bewitching.

I can imagine an artist sitting on this stump seat, with all the beauty around them, coming up with their next masterpiece.

A stroll through the woods sounds enchanting right now. 

I'm reminded here again that I'm not invited to see the luxurious mansion on the other side of this garden. The mansion only for the most talented tributes. I'm just grateful they've opened up the astounding gardens to the normal public like me. I hope those invited to stay here feel honored.

This land has a history about it that shows a caring couple who loved art so much they dedicated their land to it. Katrina and Spencer left a glorious estate to the artists invited and public who go to see these gardens. They truly cared for their Saratoga Springs and put in so much of their lives to making it better. The pillars here show a seemingly endless pathway - roses and other pretty flowers sticking out along the way. Walking through this glimmering tunnel I saw an eternal beauty through the landscape. Someday, when the world is crumbling down, those of us who walked through here will remember the Yaddo Gardens. A gift to us from the Trask couple. With that memory, the earth's beauty will last forever.

Scary Story To Tell In The Dark

Happy Friday! I had planned for this upcoming blog to be of a garden I went to. It's a beautiful area with flowers spread out in almost every part of it. Along with fountains, crystal blue water, and some dazzling statues. I figured it would be a nice light and charming change compared to my usual posts. Unfortunately, I accidentally deleted all the photos off of my camera. I went to the gardens to take some new photos, but they were closing right as I arrived and I couldn't finish. That blog will come out though.

The same night, I felt defeated for not getting new photos, and my dog was getting restless. My husband and I decided to take her to the dog park even though it was dark out. What I found in the darkness was a hiking trail that looked much more mysterious without daylight shining itself into it. I took some photos in the forest while going through this path. It was an eerie experience, and I fully expected Slender Man to jump out at me. Yet, there's also something mystical about the woods at night. It's has a enchanting, mystifying mood to it. So I figured with the post, you could take a walk with me through these shadowy woods, and I'll tell you a scary story. The scariest experience I've gone through to be frank. On a rainy, stormy night such as this, I think it's the perfect time to tell it.

When I was a young child, about six or seven, I played outside alone a lot. I sometimes just played with chalk, or rode my scooter around, but most times I'd sit in my backyard around the wild dandelions and just dream. It was just a normal day like that.

Where I grew up, it was about sixty degrees year round. Most days had thick fog all day, or rain, and it was almost always windy. I love that weather to this day. I remember on that particular day I was annoyed because it was sunny. Nonetheless, I still went outside and tried to enjoy the day.

I lived in a house with a big lot. I'd say about half an acre. My parents had a tent trailer parked in the back, and I often liked to sit near it while I drew on the cement with my chalk. Right next to the trailer though, was my neighbor's property. They had a forest as their backyard. Long, enormous trees loomed over our property and created shadows on the whole right side of the yard. We had a chain link fence separating the multitude of pine trees, and maybe a few redwoods, that constantly darkened half of my parents property. That day I was sitting near our trailer, with the trees to my right, as I drew with my chalk. I remember I enjoyed being under the shade because the sun was out. I wasn't scared, the most I was worried about from my neighbors side was foxes and skunks, and even then we had a fence separating the properties.

I suddenly had a feeling to go look through the squares of the chain link fence. I don't know why. Sometimes I would just like to stare into the woods next door and see if I saw any wild animals, so it was probably just that. I stared into the darkness for a few minutes, mesmerized with trying to see all of the details in the brush and trees. No one was outside. My dad was at work, my sister was inside watching TV, and my mom was cleaning the house - I was completely alone.

Then I heard it. A shrieking whisper that said, "Virginia." It was unlike any voice I've ever heard before. It was faint, but strong. Like a child's voice hissed my name. It may not sound scary, but the feelings that came with it were. Every hair on me stood up, it was like my animal instincts kicked in. Then, something in my throat went off. I don't know how to explain it, but if you were to put every negative emotion into one cluster, that's what I felt in my throat. It was like an elaborate knot had tied itself inside the back of my throat. I had the sudden urge to puke. I can't quite put into words all that it felt like, I guess the best I can describe the feeling in the back of my throat, was it felt evil. I started coughing and gagging, then booked it inside. I felt shaken and scared. I cried, but didn't know who to tell or how to describe what had happened.

I can hear you now. "That doesn't sound scary," or "it was probably your neighbors messing with you." I'll try to debunk the second one. These neighbors were an older couple who weren't jokesters. The husband was usually gone and liked his privacy, and I doubt he could have made such a high pitched, hissing sound. The wife has always had walking problems and just liked to be left alone as well, and I also don't think her voice could have made had such a childlike sound to it. Their house was very far away from where I was and there was no reason they would have walked that far into the trees. I stood there for a few moments as my 'fight or flight' mode was charging up, so they had plenty of time to tell me it was them.  You may still think it was them, but the chances are slim. Though, a part of me wishes it was them.

On the note of it not sounding scary, you're right. It doesn't sound scary. It felt terrifying though. I've never experienced such a wicked aura, and you can't possibly understand the feeling unless you've felt it yourself. If you haven't felt it, I pray you never will. If you have, you'll see it reasonable as to why I can't describe such an evil feeling.  It was the greatest paranormal fear I've experienced so far in my life.

So there's my story. I sometimes think of it when I'm covered in shadows, looking into the darkness of the forest. I often wonder what it was, and why I experienced it. I've heard the stories now of skinwalkers, black eyed children, stick Indians, and wonder if it could have been any of those. Perhaps it was bigfoot, I know he likes hanging around Northern California. I pray it was something logical, like the wind hitting the branches of the trees a certain way and my imagination took over the rest. Or my neighbors having a laugh and messing with me. Yet deep down, I know it was something more sinister. I've hiked and camped a lot in my life, and I continued to play outside (it took me about a week to go back out after this incident though) through my childhood, and I've never gone through anything like that again.

I'm thankful I can look into the illuminated woods now and not just think of that ominous memory. I see Earth in a slumber now. I see the animals in the woods getting their rest, or their meal, depending on if they're nocturnal. I see God letting the whole forest sleep, renewing the cycle every day. I suppose life is what we choose to see and feel in it. We can choose to see the emptiness between the stars, or we can see the brightness they radiate.

 "Remember, darkness does not always equate to evil, just as light does not always bring good" - P.C. Cast.

Vale Cemetery

On Friday the 13th, I visited Vale Cemetery. People from different classes, color - all walks of life really - are laid to rest in this 100 acre land. The one thing the 33,000 people here have in common, is they're buried in the soil of this cemetery.

The sign in the picture to the left really says it all. This land has a lot of history, becoming an official cemetery in 1857, the first buried here was a four year old child. I came here because of such history, with whispers of hauntings in the land, bleeding gravestones, headless statues - I discovered there was some truth to these rumors I heard.

Every statue in this enormous cemetery had at least one body part missing. The most notable were the headless ones. They stood tall and proud, but had no face anymore. So much love were made into these statues, to stand and watch over the dead, but vandals ruined this. It just added an overarching sadness to the cemetery seeing the decrepit figures.

There were also at least half a dozen mausoleums throughout. Made for elites and families, the most despairing one I saw when looking through the cracks of the doors was a memorial for a one year old child. It was laid next to its mother's and father's memories as well. The mausoleum was dedicated to that family, and it was a dismal site to see.

I did mention there were some elites here, and I'm not lying. I saw countless Freemason symbols on a variety of graves. It was shocking to see - it's hard to wrap my head around such a secret society being so prevalent. It's also worth noting, that wherever I saw a Freemason symbol, no matter how old the grave, the stone it was on was not touched by vandals and in strong condition. Some of the older gravestones with age contradicted the ones with the society's symbol on it because they were worn out, while the Freemason ones of the same age would be in peak condition.

This was the first gravestone I saw that looked like it was bleeding. It was actually amazing to see the moss grow in such a way, with such a distinct color, that it looked like red blood spilling from the gravestone.

Here's just a photo of a multitude of graves. It's hard to show just how big this place was, but this was only a minuscule portion from the rest of the cemetery. You can also see many big trees planted. When originally being made, thousands of trees were planted, all of different kinds. The cemetery was originally built outside of Schenectady, it was out of the way and in nature so people would come and have picnics here, almost as if it was a park. As the years went on, Schenectady grew and developed around it.

Armless grey statues.

A glowing, green statue of Mother Mary stood high on a pedestal here. It was so high that I believe it kept away the vandals. She was the only statue I saw in such pristine condition. Even the vandals willing to disrespect the dead by decapitating the other statues thought it best to leave Mary alone.

A headless woman stood next to this bench that was hidden under a multitude of trees. She held roses at her right side. It was a romantic, yet eerie, scene. 

This was another statue with a green tint to it. This one may have not had any body parts missing from it as well. Perhaps the vandals thought it'd be better not to mess with an angel overlooking this dead.

Another gravestone that looked like it was bleeding. I was perplexed that the moss grew in such a distinct way. It added a spooky aura to the graveyard experience.

I did not, and still do not, know what this was. It may have been another mausoleum, or it could have been a shed of some sorts. It looks extremely old, with the rough stone, climbing vines on the sides, and faded color. The style was unique compared to everything else there, but there was no information on what it was anywhere on this mysterious building.

The top statue here is missing its hand. This gravestone actually intrigued me immensely as most on the stone is in German.

A very high up statue looked down on me here. It was a simple figure, nothing extravagant like Mary or an angel, but I felt its eyes on me as I walked underneath.

A praying child sat on this stand. It almost looked like the figure was praying over all the souls from the land, asking God for their souls to make it up to Heaven, but it's hard to say what the praying child's purpose truly is.

I caught an orb in this photo, it's in the bottom right corner. I took this photo trying to capture a good shot of the dark, metal fence here that was surrounding a multitude of one family's graves. Whether you believe it's supernatural or not, it is quite the coincident to catch the lighting in such a specific way. I did not see this in the photo when I originally took it.

Another handless statue right above this, then a headless one below. It broke my heard to see such distorted figures. I don't know who would want to ruin something that meant so much to the family members who laid their loved ones to rest here, but I can only hope those troubled enough to ruin such beautiful figures are able to find peace in their own hearts.

This set of graves was actually inside of a circle. I believe the main, center gravestone was a memorial to the whole family, and the smaller gravestones on the side represented each, individual family member. You can also see the middle grave has the bleeding look to it too. Strange moss, isn't it?

This was by far the creepiest part. There were various graves under a circle of trees. It was almost as if the trees were planted specifically to put these graves inside of them, sheltering them in a way. The main headstone in the middle says "Some Are Fallen Asleep." Then there's a tiny doll, sitting on the steps. It was a strange, depressing sight. I'm glad the trees were here though, they seemed to be protecting the many memorials inside.

Vale Cemetery had a sinister vibe to it. Graveyards themselves can be sad to explore, but this one had many factors leading to a more disturbing aura. The headless statues had to be one of the most frightening sights. Even though I knew it was caused by vandals, their distortion was saddening in an already sorrowful place. Next was the bleeding gravestones. The moss grew in such a unique was that it made it look like the headstones were bleeding. From the corner of my eyes they were. The last factor was my camera was acting up a lot in this place. Don't get me wrong, my camera has a bit of an age to it, but it's never messed up so much before. It kept turning off at random times and its functions were all out of whack. It has not messed up since Vale Cemetery. The land here has so much history. The rich memories that the loved ones have of the dead placed here is strong I'm sure. And there are still dead being placed here to this day. Some graves seemed ancient, with chipping stone and sunkissed, faded color. I couldn't even make out the names of most of the older graves there, they had been so exposed for such a long time that they were rubbed into the rest of the stone. Many were knocked down and broken, or cracked from age, some crumbling from the elements. The ones not yet deteriorating, the newer dead, were much fewer than the older. This place is worth going to and experiencing yourself. It's a beautiful, unique, ominous graveyard. Thousands of people's loved ones are at peace here, I hope their souls have moved on somewhere better.