In September 2023 I dropped into Shades of Autumn, a homestead region design by Flower Caerndow which she offered for people to visit and photograph. I found it an engaging and autumnal visit, with plenty to appreciate within in (see: Appreciating the Shades of Autumn in Second Life). Earlier in February 2024, Flower opened up her latest region design, Serene Retreat, occupying a Full private region, and given my enjoyment of Shades, I trundled over recently to have a look.
Welcome to a beautiful peaceful retreat and experience the magical beauty of nature. All are welcome to wander and take pictures and find the hidden cuddle spots.
– Serene Retreat About Land Description
This is a place which very much carries on in the spirit of Shades, whilst presenting an entirely new landscape to explore and photograph.
The landing point sits towards the northern tip of the island, close to where a small gallery of Flower’s own SL photography might be found. Whilst picturesque, the pictures serve a dual purpose: as well as offering views of the region, each is a teleporter which will carry a visit to the location it frames. However, given the overall nature of the island, unless you’re in a hurry to get to someone or somewhere, it’s much better to explore using your pedal extremities.
A short walk downhill from the landing is one of the island’s sandy beaches and (if it is your first port of call on arrival) the first of the region’s little places to sit and / or cuddle. For those who prefer, steps leading up from the cobbles surrounding the gallery in its ruined tower provide a way up the neighbouring hill, where a small tea house sits within a Zen garden watched over by a figure of Buddha.
From here, other paths wind their way over the island, notably to the south and east, passing by a ring of standing stones to reach the highest point within the setting as is sits above steep rocky inclines falling away to the sea. Other paths wend their way through a nearby copse, where crystals, hints of exotic plants and some of the local wildlife might be found, together with further places to sit and pass the time in solitude or with others.
Also to be found on the edge of the Zen garden is a pool of crystal-clear water, home to swans and koi carp, and the birthplace of a stream that runs out to a rocky lip before cascading down to be caught by a rocky pool. From here and tumbling over the coastal rocks, it makes its way out to open waters. A mossy / grassy path slips down the hill alongside this stream and its falls, passing a romantic little snuggle point and what appears to be the last remnants of a building. Below these an old track passes, looking like it might have once passed around a good ideal of the island, but which the sea has been gradually reclaiming in places.
Just below the stone flooring of whatever might have once stood here, whilst also running back from the cart track, is a narrow hollow slumped within the arms of the hill. More crystal and exotic flowers are to be found here, together with the open mouth of a tunnel slipping back under the hill and inviting exploration. However, I’ll leave it to you to find out what lies within its caverns.
The eastern side of the island also offers a second beach reached via two stone-stepped paths running down to it. From here, and past the tepee-like sitting area and a swing, you can scramble up on to the island’s rocky feet and make your way around to the south side. It’s not possible to get all the way around the island at close to sea level, but for those who do follow the hill’s lip, a way down to a southern shingle beach and its little sitting spot can be found. This also allows visitors to continue their walk on around the island close to its edge, and thus come to the stream and hollow mentioned above.
Tranquil, photogenic and sitting under a sky mindful of Stevie Davros’s work (which is not to say it is – just that it reminds me of his work – which is to say it has a sense of realism about it which is attractive), Serene Retreat build on the foundations Flower laid with Shades of Autumn whilst offer its own unique and engaging setting for exploration.
SLurl Details
- Serene Retreat (rated Moderate)
Inara Pey: Living in a Modemworld 