RI STONE WALLS

 " Good fences, make good neighbors".

~ Robert Frost from "Mending Wall"

Turkey on Stone Wall, Little Compton, RI

In New England farmers built stone fences that separated property and kept pastures, meadows, orchards and farmland marked off. My house in RI sat on piece of property that in earlier days was a working farm. There were many remnants in the landscape that gave clues to what life on that farm must have been like. But the stone walls that bounded our property were the reason I wanted to live there. I loved them. I loved looking at them, repairing them, sitting on them and watching the scurrying to and fro of the family of chipmunks that lived in the wall. We were wary friends. I was allowed only so close when I left nuts and fruit for them to eat. I miss my stone walls. I miss seeing the stone walls that dotted the landscape no matter where you walked or where you drove in this smallest of New England states. We spent 7 days back in RI visiting family and friends. It was cold, gray, rainy and damp six of the seven days. But that was ok--well, I really hated being cold and achy, but the rain changes the color of everything,greens are greener and browns are browner and the gray skies are perfect backdrops for the bright spring flowers. This is my pictoral ode to RI stone walls.

Stone Wall, Little Compton, RI

Some walls are straight and true.

Stone Wall, East Greenwich, RI

Some walls need repair, which usually happens in the spring.

Stone Wall, Sauderstown, RI

Chipmunks live and hide in stone walls.

(Unknown photographer)

Ferns growing at the foot of RI Stone Wall.