The symbolic power of the numeral three, reflected in various cultural, religious, and secular contexts, underscores its universal significance. From the mystical trinities of gods to the practical applications in rhetoric and storytelling, and the fundamental structure of our physical world, the number three resonates with a sense of completeness, balance, and harmony. Its pervasive presence in different aspects of human thought and culture attests to its enduring and profound symbolism.
A broad, fertile flat between gorge walls supports a dense growth of invasive creeping myrtle. Springtime there is a sprinkling of small blue flowers, this may be the source of another name, periwinkle, or lesser periwinkle.
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Beneath the Cliff Stairs I
Periwinkle is an evergreen and in early times vinca vine (another name we call it, from the scientific name Vinca Minor) was planted in graveyards and cemeteries. The isolated growth of vinca vine in this section of the gorge maybe from such a planting on a lost grave.
Beneath the Cliff Stairs II
Today, the park practices leaving fallen trees in place, here they are covered in years of moss, a memory of headstones. Lesser Perriwinkle is significant for the living as the source of vincamine, from the leaves. A synthetic form of this compound is a potent vasodilator, a therapeutic treatment for stroke and other brain disorders.
These shots were hand held. I used a Sony Alpha 700 dslr with a variable “zoom” lens, great for framing compositions.
Robert H. Treman New York State Park.
Source: Wikipedia, “Vinca Minor.”
Click for a slideshow of this Fertile Flats sequence.
Beneath the Cliff Stairs IBeneath the Cliff Stairs IIVernal Pool with Vinca Vine
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Melting snow, spring rains, gather in hollows of the forest floor to form ephemeral pools important for the development of amphibian life.
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Vernal Pool with Vinca Vine
Also named vernal pools, from the Latin word for spring or the time of the equinox. The pools are ephemeral in the sense of being temporary, disappearing in the warmer, dryer late spring and summer months, a characteristic important for amphibian live in being devoid of predatory fish.
Rim trail traverses gullies. These creases in the gorge walls were formed by small streams flowing to Enfield Creek.
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Gully I
Some passages require a wade, others have elaborate walkways with bridges. I initially wanted to call these ravines. Upon researching the term discovered while ravines are formed by erosion, the scale here is much smaller. I could rename Enfield Gorge, to Enfield Ravine.
Gully II
These shots were hand held. I used a Sony Alpha 700 dslr with a variable “zoom” lens, great for framing compositions.
Robert H. Treman New York State Park.
Click for a slideshow of this Waterfall of the Old Mill sequence
Rim Trail AscentRim Trail iciclesRim Trail icicles with lichen, moss and fern.Gully IGully II
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Water drips steadily from seeps, places water follows hidden cracks to emerge from the darkness. In warm seasons these may be a patch of moisture enabling the growth of ferns, only becoming evident when air is cold enough to freeze slowly running water.
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Rim Trail icicles with lichen, moss and fern.
These macros capture the Moss, Fern and Lichen. These thrive in this environment.
These shots were hand held. I used a Sony Alpha 700 dslr with a variable “zoom” lens, great for framing compositions.
Robert H. Treman New York State Park.
Click for a slideshow of this Waterfall of the Old Mill sequence
Falls by the Old Mill, early springPlace where Fish Kill was harnessed to power the Old Mill Fish Kill Waterfall at the Old Mill. Sedimentary WallsIcicles hang over Fish KillRim Trail AscentRim Trail iciclesRim Trail icicles with lichen, moss and fern.This macro captures the Moss, Fern and Lichen. These thrive in this environment.
Copyright 2024 All Rights Reserved Michael Stephen Wills
Join me on a serene Christmas Eve stroll around Beebee Lake, where winter’s bite and the stillness of nature blend into a captivating scene. Through the simple lens of my iPhone 7, witness the frozen beauty of the lake, the historic backdrop of Cornell University, and the timeless dance of nature and history. Experience the quiet awe of this winter day.
Michael Stephen Wills Photography 