I’m working on a couple of photography projects and have stumbled across quite a few photos which have been tucked away in the depths of my computer for a very long time. Photos, I clearly had a purpose for taking (whether it was because they simply caught my eye, or I had a special place or need).
A few of my favorites are of the tall Live Oaks of St. Simons Island with the Spanish Moss draping from the tree limbs. You can almost feel the warmth from the slivers of light beaming through the tree tops beating down on the ground below.
This photo is of a park just off Mallory Street, a few short blocks from the pier and the lighthouse.
Spanish Moss thrives in humidity, and can be found in the Southern U.S. and in extreme southern parts of Virginia (source: Wikipedia – Spanish Moss ). But, did you know Spanish Moss isn’t really a moss, but a member of the Bromeliad family? Yep, it’s actually a flowering plant which reproduces in one of two (2) ways: through “pups” just like other Bromeliads or seeds carried by the wind.
While researching its history I found a great article written by Celeste Booth: The Story Behind Spanish Moss. Her article covers everything you would ever want to know about this unique plant, even mentioning an interesting folk lore about how it’s name came from a Spanish explorer Gorez Goz. It must be a fairly popular folk lore because I ran across it on a few other sites (Florida Memory).
Credit: State Archives of Florida
Because St. Simons is covered with Live Oaks, Spanish Moss is everywhere perfectly framing and enhancing each scene as it gently sways with the breeze.
There is something so magical and romantic about Spanish Moss……don’t you agree?
Donna Robinson Photography 
Great images, I would love to photograph the trees with the Spanish moss
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Simon! The Spanish Moss really does make the trees very mystical
LikeLike
Oh I love the spanish moss Donna! We just returned from a southern trip and I was enjoying seeing it again…it brought back fond memories of our vacations in Jekyll Island from where we could see St. Simons light house. I absolutely love those islands, so neat that you have pictures of the moss from there…I especially like the one of the young couple, beautiful! And thanks for sharing the legend behind it 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jen! That photo of the couple was pure accident! We were visiting friends who live on St. Simons and we went to Ocean Lodge for cocktails and stumbled on the wedding party. The photographer was nice enough to let me take the photos.
LikeLike
oh, how nice that the photographer “shared” the moment! I would love to know how your friends enjoy living on the island. I was reading the Eugenia Price novels “Savannah” trilogy, and ended up getting to know a lot of its history, and even spoiled one of the plots by trasping through one of the old graveyards, lol!
LikeLiked by 1 person
HOW COOL – who knew that legend!!! Love it!
On Sat, Apr 7, 2018 at 7:03 AM, Donna Robinson Photography wrote:
> Donna Robinson Photography posted: “I’m working on a couple of photography > projects and have stumbled across quite a few photos which have been tucked > away in the depths of my computer for a very long time. Photos, I clearly > had a purpose for taking (whether it was because they simply caug” >
LikeLiked by 1 person
I know, right?!?!
LikeLike
Enchanting
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Lovely images. I love mossy trees.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Anne. I love the mossy trees, too!
LikeLike