The Fairy Woods

I've haven't written anything for awhile. I've been in the process of moving. I'm now down south, in the middle of the East Coast. Virginia Beach, Virginia is my new home for the next few years. I was devastated leaving Saratoga Springs though. I had made such close bonds with a few friends I met up there. And while I'm thrilled to be by an ocean again, I already miss the mountains and cold from up north. Before I left though, I went on a hike. I've hiked a lot of places in my life, both west and east coast, and this hike was by far one the most beautiful ones. I know it's October, and I'll have a blog of something scary for Halloween, but I just wanted to put my last adventure in the area around Saratoga Springs before I left.

I originally wanted to go explore an old mine that lays in the forest of Pharaoh Lake Wilderness Area, but I couldn't find it. My dog was getting restless so I pulled over to a random trail and just decided to take an adventure through it. Spectacle Pond was the trail I was lucky enough to find. I've never seen such a lush ecosystem. The forest was sustaining itself so well. It felt magical to walk through, like fairies had inhabited the forest. This blog will mainly be on the pictures, and less on any history. So, take a walk with me through the Adirondacks.

The rushing streams that went over and under a multitude of rocks was a sight to see. You can see the heavy moss growing on the side of this specific stream.



To the picture on the right here, this root looks like a hand. It's like the fingers of the tree are sticking out and glancing at those who walk by. Maybe even playing jokes and tripping people who aren't paying attention.

This was a gorgeous, small stream. It flowed under all of this vegetation and came from a tiny pond covered in lily pads. You can't see from the picture too well, but there were these small, frail lavender flowers growing in between all the ferns and other brush. The stream kept this habitat alive and growing well.

Here are the lily pads floating around. You can see also see the reflection of a pine tree in the left hand corner of the water. In the bottom right of the water, you can see clouds reflecting off of it.



In the picture below was Spectacle Pond, but the outskirts of it. It and the lily pad pond weren't connected though.

This was by far the best photo I took that day. It's perfect. I didn't even edit it. The boat was just sitting there on Spectacle Pond's shore, and the reflection of the clouds created a full scene of beauty. I miss the thick forests up there, and the wise mountains I hiked up.

A campsite right by the pond. There was a little fire pit and it was on the other side of the hill where the boat was. I'll show the view from the campsite in the next image, but it was a truly pretty place. I would have liked to have camped there.

Here's the view from the campsite. The pond looks never-ending here. This was right as the season was transitioning to fall, so the air was crisp and cool. The leaves were just beginning to change. Everything was dark green still though because of all the recent rain.

Do you see it?


It was the first out of two frogs I saw that day.

This was the bridge over the lily pad, mini-pond. This was on my way back. To the left is the lavender flowers, thick vegetation, and small stream. To the right in the lily pad pond and the beginning of Spectacle Pond.

I saw this on a rock. It might be a symbol I don't recognize, or the Blair witch has been there. Or someone probably carved out at random on the moss when they got bored, but to me it looks like some fairies made it a landmark. Maybe one was making some art from the stars they looked up to each night.

I've got to give credit to my husband here. He didn't take the shot but he gave me the idea to. As I said earlier, the leaves were just beginning to change at the start of the autumn season. This was one of the first leaves I saw changing color in the northeast.

I loved the way the roots stood up through the soil here. Tangles of them creating a bumpy earth to walk on. Looking up from the roots, the thin trees looked like I could run through them and never look back.

I can see a little critter taking shelter in here when it rains or snows. A home for an animal to put their family in maybe. Or to burrow in when hibernating.

There were a lot of mushrooms here. These little guys were so cute. They grew like little balls on the fallen tree and plentiful moss.

This wasn't the only time I saw this on the walk. Two roots growing on top of rocks. Like they were covering the rocks from harm. The conjoined, two different types of earth was unique, I'v never seen anything like it.

These are the type of mushrooms that look cute to touch, when you squeeze them though their spores go everywhere. It looks like a thick layer of dust flying off of it. They look bouncy almost.

Some baby plants poking their heads out of the dirt, curious to what's going on, and wanting to grow higher,

This stump looked like its top half got blown off. Or like it just crumbled off one day. The rest of the tree is in a multitude of pieces laying on the ground.

A miniature, purple mushroom. I know the more colorful something is, the more poisonous it is. I'm not a mushroom expert so I can't say what kind this is, but its color was pretty.

There was very little water running down this stream. I can't imagine how thick the water would be flowing on a rainy day. You can see all of the fallen branches here, laying everywhere. It was a wild scene with the tall trees, multiple streams, and immense amount of fallen twigs and branches.

A picture of the mountain I saw by the pond but from a different angle. This was just through a small opening between the trees before getting to, and then leaving from the pond.

This little mushroom was in its full glory. Raised and perked perfectly up, it stood there proud as can be as I sat there admiring it.

This is one of the cutest sights I've seen. There's a mushroom perfectly in the center of a hole in the tree. You can even see a small spider has made its home in there as well. This is where I really started to be convinced that there was something magical in this forest.

Spongy moss spread out along the soil. It was a bright green and healthy moss.

Some big fungi growing off of a fallen limb. This is just one example of the thriving ecosystem here. There were so many fallen branches that were degrading extremely nicely back into the forest. You could witness the circle of life in these woods.

Some more fungi growing off of a tree. This fungi was pretty though, and had a pink outside and white inside. It looked like something you'd see in the ocean, not growing in a forest on a tree.

I took this photo as an example of how green and rich everything was. The abundance of greenery flowing through here was dazzling.

This was one of the many fallen trees. All of them were covered in moss, fungi, or both. The ecosystem was flourishing. I know it may seem like I'm making a big deal out of a simple walk through the woods, but as stated earlier, I've hiked a lot of places and never seen such luxuriant foliage around.

On top of the spongy, green moss, a blue jay's feather laid on top.

A pathway through the forest. I wasn't on a stone path the entire time, but there were several places on the trail that had these endearing, stone paths.

This piece of wood was turquoise. I'm not sure if that's a type of bacteria or maybe it was painted, but I'm glad my eye spotted it.

This silky stream was on some pretty flat rocks that it had eroded nicely over time. It looked like I could go over and grab the water like it was smooth fabric.

As I was leaving I saw more of these tiny, lavender flowers. They were right next to my car and were growing under some twigs, through some thick leaves. I wanted to remove the twigs from on top of them to let them breathe, but I got the feeling that the forest knew what it was doing.

Saratoga Springs and all its surrounding areas were spectacular. I miss all the beautiful sights and kind people I met. The cold weather was perfect and something I missed so bad. I'll be seeing this area again though. I'll be back Saratoga Springs. 

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.