I Promise You

Have you noticed how, in fairy tales, the hero almost always goes into the forest. I think this pattern comes from the belief, not that forests are enchanted but that they contain enchantments. And because the forest is a place outside our normal human experience, it becomes, in our imaginations, a place of transformation. Here at Cape Arago, salal bushes intertwined with manzanita, sword ferns, alder, and fir saplings to completely encase the trail, framing each glimpse of the forest with green plant-portals. I love how this image, with a glimpse of tree trunks in the distance, offers a promise of something good, just out of reach. Take one step forward and then another, and soon enough, you’ll discover the source of golden light and the towering, silent trees waiting there for you. (Cape Arago State Park)