Saturday, September 6, 2008

Keep Out

Jackson Avenue used to be a bustling warehouse district at the turn of the 20th century. Now it is part of a designated Historic Warehouse District, officially on the list of the National Register of Historic Places. There are still old warehouses here. But being designated Historic doesn't mean that all the warehouses still exist.
Case in point: see this photo. 
I imagine some sort of warehouse used to occupy this plot of land. There is certainly an old building next door to speak to the truth of the existence of warehouses. But the beautiful entropy of Nature has interjected herself to remind us that warehouses are not forever, even in the downtown area. 
The weeds are high and golden in the late summer sun. Dark indigo elderberries hang in gracefully drooping clusters, and the kudzu sea tumbles down the embankment.
Perhaps the Built World is what's being kept out at this moment in time.

11 comments:

Virginia said...

Hey, no problem, glad to Keep Out of that field of kudzu. No telling what's in there. Yikes!

Tanya Breese said...

I would be a little scared to walk in there too...I love your writing style ;)

Jane Hards Photography said...

I'd be straight in there of course. Wherever there is a derelict building, mother nature will take her revenge. We share this palnet not own it. She's just reminding us.

Oleanderman said...

Derelict buildings invite you to taste their history, the lives and happenings of their previous occupants. Always tempting to a photographer...

Knoxville Girl said...

VJ & Tanya - that's the beauty of digital zoom. I can stop where the sidewalk ends if necessary.

B - I give mother nature a healthy respect. Especially her children, when their names are Copperhead Snake (not that I've seen any in there, but that's my point, can't see everything), or Cranky Groundhog (oh yes I've seen him and he is not to be trifled with).

Neorelix - I hear that; I love ruins and their possibilities. Thanks for visiting.

Louis la Vache said...

KG- "Louis" apologizes for not having done so sooner - he's added a link to your blog at his.

USelaine said...

You are lucky to have so much green at this time of year. I'm having climate envy.

Virginia said...

KG,
Just visited Babooshka's blog. Did you mention JD??? I've got my club soda, where is it? Hope it's not in that kudzu somewhere.

Tash said...

KG,
The kudzu shots are great. I've read lots of Southern writers which mention kudzu but have not seen (or don't think I have) in person. The talllllll girl & the EYES are terrific posts too. Thanks for so much for you visits & your kind condolances.

Knoxville Girl said...

Aw, Louis, merci.

Elaine - some vegetation around here is impervious to extreme drought. but our older trees are in danger

VJ - come on up, but bring your club soda, I like mine neat or with one ice cube.

Tash - thanks for visiting. I enjoy your photos of Cali.

Petrea Burchard said...

Nice prose, KG. Entropy is one of my favorite words, and one of my favorite things to photograph, too.