Simple yet powerfully suggestive these trees stand on the roads edge . Behind them a forest full of color and life as fall begins. On the ground before them the leaves of various hues mark the seasons change. The precision of this change year after year pointing to a design of perfection.
An image of true seasonal transition. where we see greens , yellows and oranges upon the leaves.
A one lane road travels up above Forest Road in a beautiful loop . Here when fall is in the air the squirrels scamper though the dried orange leaves with the most wonderful sound. The birds are also active as they to sense the changing of the seasons.
A one lane road with very few cars allows one to park and walk trough a natural setting that speaks so much of old Kentuckys natural landscape as it was during the times of our Nations first explorers. To let your eyes fill with its fall beauty while your breathing takes in the powerful early scents of a hardwood forest in fall transition are the things dreams are made of. Even the way the fallen leaves of fall color are lined on both sides with a few in the middle is the natural world showing it is made of the right stuff.
Sights and wonders often go unnoticed . Scenes that might otherwise be missed glanced over. Yet how prominent , so often are the little things , as these few leaves ask us to see them and behinfd them a forest so full of life. The forest is awake and it asks us to be the same . Yet it is patient and year after year will always be ever so .
Slowly walking under the canopy of trees as they spread their large limbs of fall color one cannot help but feel the wonder. The forest floor is filled with the fallen leaves of golden hue and in the center of it all a wooden bench to welcome us. Fall is a magical time here and one can watch all the forest creatures as they prepare for winter. The metaphors of life in natures simplest way are on display in an eco system of such grand design , its majesty is quite profound.
One can find true medicine for the soul in walking in Gods creation. This is not some effort of random evolution at work but a design from the Creator we behold. A work of which also brought us here and we find a connection with. It is here amongst His handiwork that we can feel solace. Here natures simple perfection is on full display.
Here we see the beauty of light. Everything we behold is due to the fact thatr light travels at 186,000 miles a second and enters the best camera in the world , the human eye. A true marvel whcih is a pathway into our deepest regions. The blue sky and backlit fall leaves are very grand. Even the fingers of light in the front of the photo on the leaves such a majestic thing of rare beauty. To feel its beauty , serenity and peace so splendid that even the sleepiest heart must respond. The distant footbridge an adorning metaphor if ever there was one . One speaking to a journey onward beyond into deeper things.
These fall scenes of orange flood your senses with such power and beauty. They are so complete in their splendor . From the orange carpet of leaves below to the long dark bending limbs everything is perfect. Amidst it all two abandoned benches wait for the seeker. One who is looking and cares not about the world he left to get here . A traveler who can recline and find a rest in and amongst the perfection of this beauty as for this split second in time the fall play that has gone on since the beginning of time once again takes center stage.
Sloping down , the land reaches a forest beyond. A wonderous view framed by two trees whose fall leaves hang perfectly in place. A scene caught where just as many leaves as remain are found scattered on the green grass below. Adding to all this are the powerful scents of fall rolling through the air.
The perfect balance of nature here is even amplified more by the timing within this image. A cloudy day gave way to breaking light and its gentle fingers cast a powerful majestic backlight upon the trees golden leaves of fall. This created a beautiful scene upon everything , not the least of which was sun and shadows upon the fallen leaves in the foreground. Then just a quick as it came it departed as full sun moved in with the parting of the clouds and the sun moving over head.
John Muir once saidE , " Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where Nature may heal and cheer and give strength to body and soul alike." As people load thier backpacks with social media , more bad news ,and endless drama isnt it about time to at least spend time in the Creation. A place so full of beauty, grandeur and solace.
This bench awaits anyone who will stop and sit down. A person who will just sit and look. A person who will just sit and breath in the fresh air. By its very design it calls for us to connect with it and disconnect from hindrances that follow us into the forest. Traveling light and leaving drama is encouraged here as one opens up to the beauty.
These three trees leading right to the bench captivated my eye. The scene was so peaceful with the blue sky in the background. Walking upon the plush soft fallen leaves was an experience in itself. It took me back to my childhood when a neighborhood full of young children would pile leaves like this up and play in them with such a boundless sense of wonder.
A perfect picture but for the flag. Yet it was placed there for a reason and in that is just part of it all. A tree with no fall leaves and then a tree full of fall before Lake Nevin . A sky of blue with puffy clouds so beautiful in its own way to be sure.
This lone orange tree full of color is what Ive come to expect in nature at times . A lone hold out as the fall leaves let go. A perfect scene for any who chose the picnic table below it.
The serenity of sitting on this picnictable bench and watching the clouds move across the scene is pure magic. After a year of limited movement and covid fears I found my time there much needed. The created need to be in the creation .
I have many pictures of this trail and to me its significance is a metaphor of travel. As a young man I rejected existentialism as to painful , irrational and meaningless so I went on a journey. This trail to me represents a pilgrimage if you will. I found my destination one day and to my surprise I never lost the desire to travel light. This trail to me is a place to do inventory and keep what we need and discard the rest. The Creation ,a beautiful trail and the ability to not carry drama since it simply weighs us down. Onward and upward we must go....we really must go.
This captures it all. We have a wonderfful forest. We have a creek bed with exposed roots. We even have a foot bridge. I have always identified with this scene. The fall leaves in front only add to its timelessness.
Imagine a forest full of fall colors. Imagine temperature in the mid sixties. Imagine no crowds. Imagine the silence of the forest with only the barking squirrels and scampering birds. Imagine you at this picnic table. Imagine Bernheim.
There is almost an ethereal quality to this image. Its so peaceful. I can feel the peace it instills even now. It to me really exemplifies the level of of rest Bernheim is and the quality experience it can provide to those who allow it to reveal itself.
Two benches and so many trees for comfort , this place is truly a gem for those seeking out the solitude of a pure natural setting. It heightens ones senses and heals the weary in need of peace .
When in this hectic world one needs to retire to where the clamour of this world cannot reach , immerse yourself in this natural harwood forest at Bernheim. This fall was not a disappointment.
