Spring Things - Bluebells of Virginius Island

Virginius Island, in walking distance from Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, used to be a thriving mill village back in the 19th century.

Harpers Ferry is best known for the John Brown raid that was one of the factors leading to the United States Civil War, but the area is actually rich in a lot of other history, too.  One day I will blog more about it.

Virginius Island lies in the Shenandoah River near where it joins with the Potomac.  The entire area (including the lower part of Harpers Ferry) is a flood plain and has been flooded again and again.  Recurrent flooding ended the occupation of Virginius Island.  Now it is abandoned.  The island is gradually returning to nature.

To get to Virginius Island, you cross the Shenandoah River on a bridge that has a train running mere feet away from where you walk.

Last month, the Virginia bluebells were in full bloom.

They grow even around the ruins.

The confluence of the Shenandoah and the Potomac seems so peaceful, but those rivers actually have a lot of rough water.  And when the floods come, they are deadly.

We think we can conquer nature but when it comes right down to it, we are only fooling ourselves.