Wednesday, October 22, 2014

Reading the Landscape in its Fences

Walking through the Bruce Trail property that I've described the last two days, I come across remnants of old fences that help tell me the history of this property.  I've seen fences in many forested areas in the valley, indications of the farms that previously occupied the valley; very few are left on any of the steep slopes.

These two bits of page-wire fence are now totally surrounded by forest, mature forest on one side, and pine plantations on the other.  You can see the page-wire grid is still intact here.

Here's another example just a few feet away.  Because these are at the east edge of a pine plantation, beside mature forest on a steep slope, I interpret that the view behind the fence was once field, and the fence was put in place to keep cattle from going over the brow of the steep slope.

Right here at home, there used to be a page-wire fence down the middle of our old stone fencerow, running diagonally across this picture.  At the same time, you can see how the hostas turn yellow in the fall, quite a striking band of colour along the fencerow for a couple of weeks.

Looking the opposite direction, there is one old leaning fencepost, and you can find the wire buried along the top of the rocks.  It could catch your feet if you climb over the stones, but its no higher than that.

But down at the end of our fencerow, there are a few vertical (well, almost) fenceposts with the page-wire still in place.  In our case, I assume this fence was in place to keep cattle in a long gone pasture.

The fallen fenceposts begin to decay, like this one which I thought provided an interesting pattern, lying horizontally, even though the wire is still attached in the background.

Fences aren't the only thing that helps you read the history of the landscape.  This row of mature trees, with older forest behind them, and pine plantation to the right of this photo, also mark the edge where the forest met a former field.  I always find such indications of landscape history here in the valley fascinating.

Linking to:


21 comments:

  1. Love the yellow of the leaves. Looks like some of those fences need a redo, if they are still needed.

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  2. It's so so pretty in those golden woods. I love your rock wall and the yellowed hostas along it. Beautiful photos.

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  3. This time of year does make for such gorgeous colours, and you bring them across beautifully.

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  4. Stunning autumn images! Everything is such a lovely golden colour.

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  5. Very interesting interpretation of the landscape through the fences and wires still there. I had not thought of things that way before. And the colors are stunning.

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  6. What wood were the fence posts. Bois d arc and cedar were used for fence post in areas where I have lived. They make such natural looking fences. Thanks for sharing the history of the land.

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  7. Great, evocative images. I am looking forward to a post on ferns one day! And if you have a recommendation for a good fern book, I'd love to know it.

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  8. great post and what a beautiful place!

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  9. just gorgeous area! those colors!!! love the old fence finds. thanks for linking!!!

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  10. Such beautiful autumn colours - great photos.
    Liz

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  11. Yes that is our country. Many interesting things are in and around the rocks and land and bush.

    Great takes from another Canadian. you. Thumbs up!

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  12. I love your series of fences. They make me want to do one too!

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  13. Very nice series of photos/fences. Love the fall foliage in them.

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  14. Oh wow! Beautiful yellow yellows! Oh, now I want to sing Mellow Yellow!

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  15. This series of fall colors are spectacular!

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  16. Gorgeous fall colors.. Great fence shots..Enjoy your weekend ahead!

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  17. Loving the yellow hues and of course the fences. Also enjoyed the shot of the broken fence post up close.

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  18. Gorgeous fall color!

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