Honeycomb Natural Bridge and Ghost Creek Falls
Friday, May 15, 2015 at 5:00AM Imagine a great chasm in the yard, not far from the front door, as though a long-ago earthquake had split the earth. Imagine the land full of sinkholes, fissures, limestone cliffs and underground streams, and all this the fantastic backdrop to a 25-foot-long natural bridge and a waterfall.
What would one do with such a setting?
James and Carol Meekins, in Marshall County near Grant, Alabama, have taken their special property and created spectacular rock gardens, as well as wandering paths through the woods, edged with rhododendrons, azaleas and other woodland plants. The Honeycomb Natural Bridge and Ghost Creek Falls are on the Meekins' private property, but the couple graciously allow the public to visit. Ghost Creek flows down the mountainside to the right of the bridge. It gets its name from the way it disappears and reappears as it runs down the hill. Eventually it spills beneath the bridge and then vanishes into the earth.
Recently I was in North Alabama and stopped by with my camera. I wished I had been younger and had surer footing, for I would have explored further. Nevertheless, I managed a few good photos even from safe, easily accessible perches.
I will never complain about my rocky soil again!
Reader Comments (14)
What an amazing place! thank you for sharing such a special place.
It looks amazing!
I had to laugh at your rocky soil comment, that was the exact thing that ran through my mind. I do love the photos, it looks like such a wonderful challenge.
That is an amazing rock garden! How marvellous that the owners have turned what could have been a problem to someone else, into a fantastic rockery, it's wonderful!
Ooo, not a garden for the faint hearted.
What a wonderful natural feature to have in one's backyard! It's great that the property fell into hands prepared to make the best use of it, and that rocky soil.
That’s a rock garden – and some! I was thinking of making a small corner of my new garden into a rock garden, this garden does it on a rather grander scale, and so well. Thanks for showing us this beautiful place.
What a beautiful spot!
Gosh what an amazing property and garden. You would not want to be there when the earthquake shook the earth, but the aftermath has a stunning natural beauty.
unusual extraordinary garden. Although the gardening conditions are challenging, it's a lesson in not fighting the site, but working with what you've got.
Amazing! I wouldn't even know what to do with such dramatic feature in my garden!
I agree, a great and very unique setting. They made good design choices.
The owner did an amazing job with that place! It's a very unique place. Treacherous looking too.
Possibly the most amazing place I’ve ever seen.