Take a close look at the first bunch of shrubs we came to - these are Lilacs, just about to burst their buds. How would a clump of Lilacs get here in the midst of an old overgrown field?
Sunday, January 12, 2020
Hunting for the Homestead
Two or three decades ago, when I had first walked this property with Peter, he had mentioned that he had never been able to find any evidence of an old homestead. I took a look around and thought about it. Then I spotted a clump of tall Silver Poplar; we headed that direction, though on May 2nd these pictures are rather nondescript.
We headed over to this clump of trees and shrubs under brilliant blue skies. I was just thinking we might find something.
The Turkey Vultures were soaring overhead .
They were clustered around a tiny stream that disappeared into a small sinkhole at their feet, and spreading out on both sides of that stream was a large patch of bright green leaves. Yes, these are Day Lilies, just poking out of the ground.
We went over to take a closer look at the clump of Silver Poplar. The light had turned on in my brain that these might all be associated with that pioneer homestead we were hunting for.
Silver Poplar, not a native species, are easy to recognize, even from a distance because their foliage is almost white, especially on the back of the leaves. This one is around the block from where we live. They (along with Day Lilies and Lilacs) were often brought from home and planted to remind pioneers of their connections, usually to England, Ireland or Scotland in the mid 1800s.
Sure enough. We snooped through the underbrush and soon found what looked like the corner of an old foundation, a moss-covered old brick, and the outline of what must have been a small rectangular log cabin. Mystery solved - and Peter was very impressed with my detective work!
As I headed home I stopped down in the valley to get a couple of more pictures, first of the big rockfall, and second of the open cliff with the White Birch and those great views of the valley. Hope you've enjoyed my reminiscing on this hike from early May, 2016.
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Yes, I am very impressed. And I learned something, too!
ReplyDeleteGreat detective work. Here in England you can usually find a patch of stinging nettles wherever old homes existed. I'm not really sure why.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos and detective work. I learned how to find old foundations
ReplyDeleteBe Safe and Enjoy!
It's about time.
Back in the 1970s we used to have great fun searching for old homesteads around Kingston, using these very clues
ReplyDeleteYup, you found it. There are almost always a few ornamental plants remaining near old homesteads. Even at some old logging camps (when there were women present) there are ornamental plants still growing. Those cliffs look interesting, I can see why you wanted to get to the edge.
ReplyDeletenice detective work, i have never been on such a scavenger hunt!! really nice pictures too!!!
ReplyDeleteGreat deduction Watson even though elementary of course. Yes, anything different in a sea of normalcy is definitely worth scouting out. I stumbled across an old foundation a couple weeks ago but haven't added the photos yet. It's always fun finding things like that and trying to imagine how it was at that spot a hundred years ago.
ReplyDeleteFG, you have had so many adventures.
ReplyDeleteIt's beautiful terrain to be out and about in.
ReplyDelete