We've been back from the western part of Michigan's Upper Peninsula for a week now, but I keep thinking about a huge overgrown cemetery we found near Rockland, Mi in the Porcupine Mts.
An old sign by a very overgrown path saying "Irish Hollow Cemetery" made us wonder what we could find. At first, we saw nothing at all but thick weeds and trees....then I noticed lily of the valley in a huge patch next to the path. Hmmmm....not a native Michigan wild flower!
A few paths had been made in the tall weeds, so we followed, and after just a couple steps, remnants of this cemetary started to appear. There was myrtle EVERYWHERE! Almost four acres of it! Such a beautiful green carpet creeping over fallen trees, grave markers....iron fences. Beautiful gravestones stood out once in a while, and several had intricate carvings and dates of early 1800's. (and me with no camera!!) Rectangular impressions about 1 to 2 feet deep lay in rows....most with no stone to mark who lay beneath. Many graves held children...all different ages, but who had died in similiar years. The stones that had not been tampered with stood tall and proud, but a large number had been toppled or broken.
There were two different kinds of day lilies, some iris that had already blossomed, primrose, the lily of the valley....and myrtle....everywhere you looked. It was amazing how such a common plant in our yards had taken over an entire huge area!
We found a tiny museum in Rockland that had an old photo of "The Irish Hollow Catholic Church". Surrounding the church was a huge cemetery....the one we had just visited. No woods were there when the picture was taken.
I want to go back...something seems to be drawing me there. It makes one wonder how many old cemeteries are abandoned like this one.
I found a young man's site that has a few pictures of "Irish Hollow Cemetery".....scroll down to the last few....it's a very beautiful place!......p
http://www.keithalmli.com/06072006.htm
I find them fascinating.....beautiful.....peaceful.....mysterious...etc.
Isn't it fun to google oneself and find where you are being talked about? 
