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The Landscape of The Abode of the Message
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Old photos from the mid 19th century show that the Shakers
(see more..) clear-cut almost a thousand acres of land
for use in farming and furniture manufacturing. Today, the
forest on the four hundred acres of Abode property has returned
with second growth beech, ash, evergreens, maples and oak.
The forest is widely spaced so that in the winter one may
snowshoe or cross country ski, while in the summer, walking
off the trails, while not easy, is possible.
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The
Pond |
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During Autumn, the foliage in the Lebanon Valley rivals
that of Vermont and the other New England States, as the
hills become a spectacular event of yellow, red, gold and
orange. The main road leading up to The Abode property is
called Darrow Road.
Guests can walk to the nearby Darrow School, where benches
and grassy areas provide a nice place to stop and look across
the fields to the hills on fire with the colors of the season.
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| In the spring Darrow School
harvests the maple sap from the trees on their property for
traditional syrup making. From their "sugar house"
comes the sweet smell of smoke, day and night, as the sap
is boiled down and bottled. |
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Garden Flowers |
Late Spring and Summer offer walkers and hikers
the company of abundant wildlife such as squirrels, chipmunk,
deer, wild turkey and the occasional fox. Evening strolls
are accompanied by fireflies and a chorus of frogs in our
pond and the inquisitive owl.
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Bird watchers are delighted by the variety of
species such as cardinal, blue bird, screech owl, barred owl,
pileated woodpecker, and migrating geese, hawks, sparrows, warbleers,
chickadees and many others well known and loved by birders in
the Lebanon Valley.
Our wonderful Organic Farm
see more Farm images |
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