Monday, October 05, 2009

Ama(i)z(e)ing Apples


There is something about walking through a maze of corn that brings to my mind thoughts of dark, weird stories. Maybe it’s the forest-like feeling I get, even on a splendid summer day (make that end of September, but it still feels like summer...) , even with the happy shouts of children in the background, when I look at the crossing swords of green. A forest is a repository of eternal mysteries.

I haven’t read King’s “Children of the Corn” nor have I seen the movie, although I heard of both. In fact, just before writing this, I read a bit about them in wikipedia. However, the “Village of the Damned” type of story is not the kind that comes to my mind.

You can get in, but what if you’re not allowed to get out?


There is something menacing when you look at the sky from this perspective…


Finally, in the apple orchard…


Crunchy apples…


I wonder what their beauty’s hiding…


Hmmm, Halloween is coming…

26 comments:

the walking man said...

I wondered what it was like in a maize maze. I thought I might like to be a deer who didn't pay the price of admission and simply pushed my way through to the food within. But alas as a two footed dope I would have to get to the orchard before I could graze.

Karen said...

I spent Saturday at an orchard, too, Vesper. It was a glorious, sunny day of blue skies and wispy clouds. Totally refreshing to be among growing things! Those are beautiful shots of the corn and the apples.

Fireblossom said...

This post is just a delight of imagination. Who knows what terrors lurk behind these innocent stalks and apples? Bwahaha.

In the second picture, the lone sunflower seems like a lady on stage, bowing to her cornstalk admirers. Thank you thank you, she says. You're all so kind. It's true Miss Sunflower...they really like you!

But I do get the dark ambience. As you say, where do the rows go? What if you can't find your way out? You can't see very far in any direction...what was that noise? A witch offering a poisoned apple? Careful, Snow White!

Thank you so much, Vesper, for your visit and follow. I have thrown caution to the wind and done the same, here. :-)

Now...why is there just ONE pumpkin sitting in that field? I don't quite trust that pumpkin...

Miladysa said...

When I saw that first photograph I thought - Children of the Corn! Sorry! I have seen the film! LOl

Apples - I love apples - no wonder Eve was tempted ;)

Charles Gramlich said...

that pumpkin looks kind of lonely. I love corn fields myself.

strugglingwriter said...

Great photos.

Ah, I love autumn so.

Vesper said...

Mark, what a cute image… you as a deer… You could’ve sampled some sunflower seeds before you reached the orchard, although this year there weren’t too many ripe at that moment. :-)

Karen, thank you! And you’re right – that’s why I love so much gardens and orchards…
xo

Fireblossom, what a delightful comment! Thank you! I should add it to the main post rather than leave it hidden in here… :-)
You don’t have to thank me for my visit, it is entirely my pleasure. I’m very glad about your Sunday blog-hopping… But why are you talking about caution thrown to the wind? :-)
You’re right about the pumpkin… Hmmm…

Miladysa, Children of the Corn is fine… I much admire Stephen King. I should read that story. :-) Yes, I love apples too. :-)

Charles, we should give him company with a spooky story or two… :-) I love corn and corn fields, too.

Thanks, Paul! Autumn is beautiful…

Geraldine said...

These are wonderful photos Vesper! Such depth to each of them. Well done.

Hugs, G

Rick said...

Definitely a great pre-Halloween posting, Vesper! I love the concept of what darkness "lurks behind beauty." I wish I thought set up a panel discussion on this topic. Wish you'd find a way to come, too.

poefusion said...

I haven't read Children of the Corn but I've watched the movie and I didn't like it nearly as good as I'd hoped. I'm sure the book was great because SK is an excellent mind/ writer.

Those apples in the picture look delectable. I've actually walked through a corn maze before and it is kinda scary not knowing how to get back out. I wish I'd done it at night but I wasn't brave enough. Hope all is well. Have a great night.

Anonymous said...

Wonderful images!

Corn blots out the world beyond and totally immerses you. And it is so drenched in sameness. Easy to feel swallowed. Easy to feel relief when you finally step outside the field.

BernardL said...

I'll take the apple orchard. There is something creepy about being in the midst of a cornfield. Great pictures.

Nevine Sultan said...

Vesper, my husband is from Illinois, and well... cornfields. They're so beautiful, and walking through them removes you from the real world.

BTW, I loved your waffle photo from Brussels. My husband and I lived in Belgium for 3 years and I was just crushed when we had to leave. Belgium will always be a home to me, and I will always go back. And as for which one I would choose, I am at heart a simple girl and my simple favorite has always been the waffle sprinkled with powdered sugar. Have a great day!

Amritorupa Kanjilal said...

Trust you to capture the spookiness and the beauty of things in the same picture....

Akasha Savage. said...

You should read Children of the Corn. It's excellent...on the other hand, you may well never walk through a field of corn again once you've read it!

Vesper said...

Thanks, Geraldine, I'm glad you liked the pics. xoxoxo

Thank you, Rick. Yes, I think that beauty can hide many things... :-)

Michelle, wow, at night... that's an idea! :-) But I think that even during the day it would be (a bit) scary if it were a really big field and if you were alone, with no other sounds than the buzzing of insects or maybe just your breathing...

Jason, thank you! You're right, the essence of it is in your words...

It is creepy, isn't it? :-) Thank you, Bernard!

Nevine, cornfields are beautiful and... otherwordly...
Ah, yes, Belgium... (sigh) beautiful...

Little Girl, thank you! :-)

Akasha, I'll try to find it! :-)

Aniket Thakkar said...

Hmmm.... those apples sure look too tasty to be true. ;)

Take loadsa pics at halloween okay! I so hate the fact it isn't celebrated in this part of the world. I'd loved to be one of those millions dressed as THE JOKER. I've even practiced the 'whey so serious' speach like a gazillion times.

laughingwolf said...

'punkinhead' lost it, i see ;) lol

yeah, nothing like a crunchy apple but i suspect many will be covered in taffy, too :)

'children of the corn' is pretty good, but there's another freaky cornfield scene where gregory peck is stalked by a low-flying airplane [i forget the film name]

Vesper said...

Ah, Aniket, too bad I can't see and hear you... Do you have some typical ghost stories in India, like, for instance, they have in Japan, or China?

LW, :-) :-) :-)!
I think I remember the scene you're mentioning, but I wonder if it's Gregory Peck or maybe Cary Grant in "North By North-East". My memory is terrible these days... :-)

laughingwolf said...

one of those guys, v...

was it north-by-northwest...

Aniket Thakkar said...

Oh yes we do. Plenty to make one whole season of Supernatural. But not remotely as cool.

Here even ghosts have morale and they only torture the ones who killed them when they were alive. Too lame. They have no style. :P

Vesper said...

LW, now it's official, I'm terrible, and terribly rusty! :-) You're right, it's "North by Northwest" - and, if you check the movie on imdb:

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053125/

the first pic is the one we're talking about. :-) :-) :-)

Aniket, come on, share one on your Flash Fiction site! Please? :-)

laughingwolf said...

yup, that's the one, v... perhaps it was just a field... without corn?

K.Lawson Gilbert said...

perfect reflections for this time of year....great pictures, too.

Gel said...

A delightful set of photos. I especially like the apples one and the last one because Halloween is my favorite holiday.

-Gel

Catherine Vibert said...

I didn't read Children of the Corn, but I did read The Shining, and this maze made me think of the animal topiary for some reason. Halloween is so much fun when you have kids isn't it?