Down the steps and across a bridge from Green Gables is the Haunted Wood, made famous by the author, Lucy Maud Montgomery.
She knew the area as a child and included the wood in her novels about Anne Shirley. Anne, like Lucy Maud, imagined these woods to be haunted.
Walking through the wood, one can picture the young Lucy Maud on her way to and from Green Gables from her home nearby.
Today, the mixed forest consists of huge trees at least twenty-five meters high.
The wind in the trees makes them creak and sway. What would that sound be like at night? The effect when the moon is full must be eerier with the shadows cast as the trees sway.
Branches reach like octopus arms grasping for anyone who comes within reach.
But the faces…
they look at any passer-by who is within the limits of their frozen expression. Sometimes, the faces are stacked as a natural totem.
The skeletons of trees which died along the path, are in stark contrast to the green of summer.
All add to the haunted feel, even during the day.
In the past, people have carved their initials into a few of the trees. Were such marks on similar trees over one hundred and thirty years ago when the child, Lucy Maud, walked this wood? Such initials could represent the names of people who disappeared there!
These days, a golf course crosses the Haunted Wood. The golfers are a curious distraction to the imagination and the ambience of the trail. We stopped to watch and wonder what Lucy Maud would think of their presence in one of her favourite haunts.
34 comments:
Good Morning, A beautifully written post and I love the pictures.
Your beautiful wood seems somehow traumatized by that golf course. I thought golf was going out of style, but what do I know? My parents were golfers. Now I will always associate you with the story of Anne of Green Gables. :-)
Thanks for these photos! When we were at Green Gables, I was tired and didn't stroll through the Haunted Wood. Your photos are the next best thing to having done so!
My memories of this are vague, but I think we walked it in part at least.
I enjoy your descriptions so much Marie. I agree, woods can be scary, even in the day, especially the stary tree faces 😀😀
ooooh those faces, how wonderful!!! and that bridge, what a great railing!!!
This is very sweet to see places where the young Lucy Maud have walked before. It's great that the place isn't closed to the public. Thank you for sharing this Marie!
It looks such a beautiful place, your photographs are excellent :)
Beautiful descriptive post Marie. Wonderful photos and I like those faces on the trees. It's too bad that golf is played nearby, doesn't seem to fit.
I suspect that many a golfer curses the forest for snatching/hiding their balls. Love the faces, the trees, the bridge. And smile at those missing balls.
An intriguing place to visit no doubt. Great photos.
I would have gotten more into the mood during my walk on this trail if I had not been able to hear the golfing chatter through the trees!
Thank you, Mildred. It was a great place for a walk.
There are much worse things I could be associated with Jan. Lol.
It's a short walk, Debra, but a lovely one!
There are several places to loop back if you don't want to do the whole walk, AC.
The tree faces were my favourite, PDP.
The bridge railing fits the setting, Debbie.
It is a beautiful area, Angela.
Thank you, Ann.
I was surprised to see the golf course, but it and the people who walk through the wood seem to co-exist. I hope nobody was ever beaned with a golf ball anyway.
thank you, Blogoratti.
I was surprised to see the golfers, Tabor. We watched them for a time but the walkers and the golfers just do their own things.
Lol. Excellent observation, EC.
2nd visit...thank you for the very kind comment about my pictures today!! the butterflies were still and very easy to photograph!!!
I would love to walk in those woods. I would feel like I was a part of that place. And I really like those wooden walkways.
They are gorgeous on the coneflowers, Debbie.
It is a beautiful wood, Ratty.
It was wonderful to walk through haunted wood with you. Sarah x
Simply beautiful. We live in a desert here, and your greens knock me over.
It is a lovely walk, Sarah.
It certainly is different from the desert, Mage.
I remember the haunted woods from our visit in 88!
It's still drawing crowds, FG.
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