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October 22, 2010 / creativepotager

Mayne Island Tree Spirits

Mayne Island is a magical place and in the rolling fog off the water it is even more magnificent. The dryads, fairies, nymphs and tree spirits are just out of sight or maybe not? Let’s have a look.

The fog is thick and little can be seen along the shore trail.

The pine seems to bend back to let us past.

One branch reaching forward with pine needles harboring hope of something special… do you see anything?

Let’s head inland for a bit.

Light in coming through the mist.

A sense of missing.

Resting.

Reflections of trees caught in webs.

Watchful. Present.

Distant beauty.

Traveling into the mist.

Together.

Trees  growing together.

Tall wonder.

Many of these images are part of Mayne Island Tree Spirits 2011 calendar.

Shall we stay awhile, wondering back through the trees to the shore? Maybe the old crone will be out on the point with her camera. She is often here – squinting when the light is bright.

Have a great weekend!

Sprout question: Do you know of a place that is filled with tree spirits?

© 2010 Terrill Welch, All rights reserved.

Liberal usage granted with written permission. See “About” for details.

Purchase photography at http://www.redbubble.com/people/terrillwelch

Creative Potager – where imagination rules. Be inspired.

From Mayne Island, British Columbia, Canada

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28 Comments

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  1. jeffstroud / Oct 22 2010 3:48 pm

    Beautiful journey!

    I am coming back for a better look in a bit!

    I am Love, Jeff

  2. holessence / Oct 22 2010 3:55 pm

    Terrill – My heart is just racing in my chest, I love it so much! And you get to LIVE there! I know it’s hard for you to quite make out what I’m saying as I’m still gathering my jaw off the top of my shoes. These photographs are an instance where the word “awesome” is absolutely appropriate. What a gift – thank you.

    Sprout question: Do you know of a place that is filled with tree spirits?

    There’s a forested spot in the Highlands of Scotland that has a “natural part.” When I lay my back on the leaf-covered forest floor with eyes and ears wide open, I knew — KNEW — beyond a shadow of a doubt that there are, indeed, tree spirits.

    • creativepotager / Oct 22 2010 4:06 pm

      I knew you would Laurie. All the time I was putting the post together I was thinking “Laurie loves trees. This is just the most perfect journey for her.”

      So much fun to be able to share this experience with everyone because it was a magnificent walk through the woods. There was hardly as sound except for little birds and soft waves coming ashore. I treasure these extra special times and I do know how lucky I am – I really do.

      So Laurie, there is a spot in the Highlands of Scotland too? I wonder where else? Hummm….? Let’s wait and see.

  3. Antonia/EdenSol / Oct 22 2010 4:16 pm

    Wow! What breathtakingly Beautiful pictures, Terrill! Thank you for sharing that Gorgeous journey into your mystically enchanting area! Best wishes for a Wonderful weekend and full Moon Blessings

    • creativepotager / Oct 22 2010 4:32 pm

      Thank you Antonia and the full moon is very prominent as it seems to shine right through any clouds in our window and down onto our bed… that is until it slips behind the tall trees to the west.

  4. Chris Bellinger / Oct 22 2010 5:48 pm

    Oh these are lovely and full of spirits!
    Each tree is a precious thing.
    man is always ready to chop down though unfortunatly when diseased it has to be done
    This time of year sad that leaves are falling but it reveals more of a tree

    • creativepotager / Oct 24 2010 3:23 pm

      Chris I too appreciate having more of the tree revealed and the spaces in the underbrush, small openings that are hidden from view in mid summer. Where I grew up in late February or March there is often a thick crust on the deep snow and with snowshoes or even just walking it is possible to wander through the popular trees going places that are too dense any other time without bush-whacking a trail. Here though, the salal stays green all year and there is never that much snow for long enough to melt and refreeze into a hard crust.

  5. Patricia / Oct 22 2010 6:17 pm

    I love all the dewy droplets in the pictures on trees and webs…I think living in such a foggy area makes my skin beautiful too! Lovely pictures Thank you for sharing

    • creativepotager / Oct 24 2010 3:27 pm

      Thanks for coming by Patricia… I agree, hair and skin like our moist west coast air.

  6. Kathy / Oct 22 2010 10:20 pm

    I see much special here. There are little fairies and sprites and elves peeking out from beneath the trees. Some of them are hiding behind leaves and amidst the fog.

    I love coming upon a woods filled with spirits. Usually the woods are old and the roots thick. The spirits speak the green tongue and we listen to them through the wind which blows the branches.

    Thank you for this most lovely of posts, Terrill.

    • creativepotager / Oct 24 2010 3:31 pm

      Kathy I knew know all about tree spirits:) I am thinking of making a special tree spirit calendar with these photos and maybe the one I have of the arbutus tree in the fog but that one has a bit different feel to it. We shall see what the afternoon has to offer.

      • Kathy / Oct 24 2010 11:19 pm

        That arbutus tree is magnificent, Terrill! I love it.

  7. Elisa's Spot / Oct 22 2010 10:39 pm

    The TREE PLACE!!!

    • creativepotager / Oct 24 2010 3:34 pm

      It is too Elisa! The Tree Place:) There are a great number of trees on Mayne Island. Historically when homesteaders came they fell the very big ones and burnt them where they lay to create small fields to grow produce. The trees were too big to do anything once they hit the ground. We don’t have any left that are in that size range now but we still have some beautiful big trees.

  8. Kelly / Oct 22 2010 11:52 pm

    Gorgeous photographs of an amazing landscape. You have really captured a sense of mystery!

    • creativepotager / Oct 24 2010 3:37 pm

      Thank you Kelly, mystery is in abundance when the fog rolls or the light is low at dawn, in the evening or during the shorter days of late fall and winter. It is a private time when only the year round people stay and only a few are out wandering the woods. We feel like we have this sacred place all to ourselves. Even if we see someone there is a shared smile of conspiracy – this is the best time… we seem to be saying.

  9. DazyDayWriter / Oct 23 2010 2:46 pm

    Truly breathtaking … tree spirits, love the idea! Strangely enough, I posted a picture of our evergreen trees on my facebook page yesterday … so I may have to provide a link to your post, as well! I liked “Together” with the hint of sunlight … sunny room studio is all about the sunlight, right!? :)

    Best to you, Terrill, thanks for sharing this captivating post. –Daisy http://daisyhickman.com/

    • creativepotager / Oct 24 2010 3:43 pm

      Thank you Daisy and thanks for connecting on facebook and leaving your website link for us here as well. Always nice to know what others are doing.

  10. Sam Juliano / Oct 23 2010 8:51 pm

    The fog comes
    on little cat feet.

    It sits looking
    over harbor and city
    on silent haunches
    and then moves on.
    -Carl Sandburg

    Breathtaking beauty and a mysterious stillness suffuses these images, and there’s definitely some benign spirits in residence. This is yet further proof that you are living the life that most can only dream of consumating.

    There is a place within a mile and a half of our home where nightime strolls often suggest that tree spirits are are lurking. It’s a wooded stretch encircling a lake that certainly inspires some meditative hankerings.

    • creativepotager / Oct 24 2010 3:55 pm

      Thank you for the poem Sam:) I am pleased that you have place close by with tree spirits lurking. I think they are good for our soul… our sense of wonder and possibility, keeping us curious and remembering that we don’t know everything – ever. Looking forward to your Monday Morning Dairy post at Wonders in the Dark. And essay by Kevin on Ingmar Bergman’s 1968 film HOUR OF THE WOLF is excellent. This film often comes to mind even though it has been many years since I have last seen it. I will comment more over on the post.

  11. KariLønning / Oct 24 2010 5:53 am

    Lovely forground, backround planes traded places as your eyed become accustomed to all that’s being studied… levels and planes peaking out forward, then slowing moving back into the fog … love the trees standing and calm… watching without comment, as the air changes.air

    • creativepotager / Oct 24 2010 4:00 pm

      Thank you Kari and welcome to Creative Potager. Your poetic words are a wonderful addition to our time with tree spirits. Your woven sculptures are impressive. I particularly like the Montana Thunderstorm.

  12. Davina Haisell / Oct 26 2010 7:32 am

    I found your blog via Patricia’ Facebook post. These photographs are stunning! My eyes tear up just looking at these trees, the paths and the mist. What a beautiful place. Thank you for sharing.

    • creativepotager / Oct 26 2010 3:46 pm

      Davina welcome to Creative Potager. I was just by your Shades of Crimsom site and will be back again. Thank you for your feedback on Mayne Island Tree Spirits. I worked most of yesterday afternoon getting these images posted and put into a 2011 calendar format. The results can be viewed through today’s post “Dentist Doctor and Birthdays” Hope to see you here again soon.

      Oh, and thank you Patricia for sharing the link! Most appreciated.

  13. Chrissy Marie / Oct 26 2010 2:31 pm

    I love your tree images, they are very peaceful and very beautiful :)

    • creativepotager / Oct 26 2010 3:52 pm

      Thank you Chrissy and welcome to Creative Potager. You will for sure want to have a look at the calendar linked on today’s post as well. Glad you dropped in.

Trackbacks

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