So close to the Super Bowl you might be thinking this is a post about Shakira and Jennifer Lopez. They are both beautiful and talented, but this is about those special ladies I like to find in cemeteries — angel statues.
I visited two cemeteries: Oaklawn Memorial Gardens in Titusville and Greenwood Cemetery in Orlando. I think it’s funny that almost every cemetery has a grass, tree, or shady reference in its name. (I know it is supposed to sound peaceful and tranquil.)
At Oaklawn, I won a trifecta: angels, a big Jesus, and the most beautiful trees covered with Spanish moss.
Having a botanist daughter, I was intrigued to find out more about what type of plant Spanish moss is. At first I thought it might be a parasitic plant, but it doesn’t take any nutrients from the tree. It isn’t a moss either; it is a bromeliad (like a pineapple or succulent). Another interesting fact, it didn’t come from Spain. It’s native to Mexico, Central America, South America, the U.S., and the Caribbean and prefers a tropical habitat like swampland. As for how it got its name, Native Americans told French explorers that the plant was called Itla-okla, which meant “tree hair.” That reminded the French of the Spanish conquistadors’ long beards, so they called it Spanish Beard. It eventually evolved to Spanish moss.*
My next visit was to Greenwood, a historic cemetery established in 1888. I found many angel statues there and below are three of my favorites.
For better views of any photo, click on it to enlarge it.
*If you are simply fascinated by Spanish moss, I used this article for my research: https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/67807/10-things-you-should-know-about-spanish-moss
