Bonaventure, Cemetery or Garden?

BY SKEETER

This is NOT my Georgia Garden. This beautiful spot is located a few hours down the road from me in Savannah, Georgia. Bonaventure Cemetery is the resting place for little Gracie Watson along with many others. Click HERE to learn about Gracie. This cemetery is known for many unsettled souls such as little Gracie herself. Click HERE to read of the Ghost's within Bonaventure to include ghost dogs!

Gracie's statue is surrounded by an iron fence and beautiful garden type setting. 

There are grand monuments with weathered parts. Such as this one with damaged wing and fingers.    

A plot holds soldiers of different branches of service and wars. 

 This angel has been around for over 100 years.  

A perfect setting with Live Oak Trees filled with Spanish Moss. 

Look closely to see the differences within this one.....  

And this one. Similar yet so different. These brought back memories of European Churches.

Breath taking views all over this place.   

Is this place a Cemetery or Garden?  

Difficult to tell until you see certain signs such as a Cross. 

I can visualize this marker within a garden. Urn filled with flowing greenery.

Moss drapes the trees in all directions.

 Again, Garden or Cemetery?

Small knee high statues such as St. Francis with floppy ear bunny and bird make me smile.

 Angels lifting upwards.

And angels looking downward by the river bluff.

Green leaves peeking out behind moss. Kind of eerie looking don't ya think? 

 Doesn't this just talk to you? 

 Vines climbing upon this oak tree as if in a race with the monument.

 Beautiful scenes with every turn of the head.

 Same statue as above with different angle. Makes for a different looking statue.

 The beauty and garden type setting, keep me captivated with every visit.

 A place to stroll, enjoy the peace and reflect upon life.

 Statues such as this are found in large formal gardens, right.

 I was eyeing the iron fencing.

 As well as this gate. I could so see these in a garden. But is this not a garden? 

 This shots has a lot to say. Palm tree, Palmetto tree, Live Oak tree, Spanish Moss, Grass and Monuments. Garden or Cemetery?

 Reality hits upon this sighting. A small grave where a child must reside. Beautiful yet sad. Bonaventure Cemetery calls to me whenever I am in Savannah. I enjoy strolling around as birds sing from above. The roll of the river below the bluff. Enjoy the sweet breeze of the ocean air. Watch the many butterflies fluttering about. I don't know of a more perfect spot on earth. I know there may be ghost's strolling within but when my time comes, I hope I can be so lucky to be in such a wonderful spot for eternity. What is your answer; CEMETERY OR GARDEN?, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Bonaventure Oak Trees

BY SKEETER

I left my Georgia Gardens for a few days of R & R (Rest and Relaxation) last week. One of my favorite get-a-ways is Savannah, Georgia. My last overnight visit to this fun city was back in 2009 when I talked about the Bonaventure Cemetery. Click HERE to see. Being so close to this wonderful city, (3.5 hours) we should get there more often then we do.

I enjoy visiting the Bonaventure Cemetery. The History alone is worth the visit. Click HERE to learn more. It's stately Live Oak Trees are covered with Spanish Moss found throughout the cemetery.

The trees are magnificent sculptors of nature. Standing tall and hundreds of years old, they have seen a lot. The Live Oaks at Bonaventure Cemetery (once a Plantation) were put on the Georgia Landmark and Historic Tree Register in 2004. Click HERE to see more. 

 Spanish Moss drapes most trees Old and Young within the grounds. Click HERE to learn about this Moss.

Wildflowers can be spotted as one strolls about.

I was happy to see this sign and was looking for the "Garden" portion from this sign.

As you can see, the
Water Pumps remain but I could only see few signs of a garden from long ago.

Garden beauties such as Hydrangea are seen as one lingers about.

Some interesting blooms too. A Hibiscus maybe?

Gulf Fritillary and Yellow Butterflies were fluttering all over this Cemetery. Telling me, there's plenty of nectar for them to enjoy. There were so many Fritillary's that I first thought I was in the middle of a Migration of the Monarch Butterflies. This one above was kind enough to stop for a picture on a large Lantana Bush.

This is a view I did not expect to see in the Cemetery. But being on the coast, these palm trees did not surprise me. Even though, I was in a Cemetery, scenes such as this put smiles on my face.

Sago Palms were scattered about as well.

This wall caught my eye. Looks as if old stones were reused to make a wall. This gave me inspiration.

I could only salivate for this bench. I have never seen one so ornate. It has been there so long that the legs are starting to fade below the soil. I wanted to remove the sandy soil but decided I should leave well enough alone. After all, this Cemetery is protected by the City and I did not want to have to explain that I was not going to steal it but rather show its beauty. The Saint was happy I walked away.

I spotted flowers on many grave markers as well as animals, angels, etc. I shall show you more of these markers on Thursday. I must first weed through tons of pictures I snapped. I just love the BONAVENTURE OAK TREES, In the Garden...

Words and Photos Property of In the Garden Blog Team, In the Garden

Here and There

By Skeeter

I was out of my Georgia garden for a bit during the month of October and noticed some strange things in my travels. First, I spotted this while sitting on my parents Tennessee porch. Do you see the strange thing I am talking about?
Blue Blooms with a Yellow Leaf Backdrop!
In late October their Chaste (Blue Bush as they call it) continues to bloom as the trees had turned into their fall colors! Strange stuff I tell ya...
Is this Oleander blooming in late October also?
Yep, Oleander blooming but not sure if this is strange or not as it was blooming on Tybee Island outside of Savannah, GA...
I enjoyed seeing it from my hotel balcony.
This was an eerie sight and just on time for us. It was Halloween Day when we visited the Bonaventure Cemetery in Savannah. The mood was perfect as their was a mist and fog hoovering above.
Some people may think me a bit crazy to visit cemeteries during my vacation but I really do enjoy going to an old cemetery. I find cemeteries very interesting and a sort of garden. Plants, trees and statues were placed many years ago and some are such pieces of art work. Look at this grand lady keeping watch over a plot. Here is the same lady after I played with the camera a bit.
This cemetery has been around since the mid 1800's and sits on a hill top over looking the river below.
This place is full of Spanish Moss draping the trees above!
Natures hand giving me beautiful artwork to view.
The sun finally burn off the fog and mist and I felt like I had just stepped out of the movie "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil". This is the cemetery where the famous Bird Girl statue once belonged...Here is an Oak Tree lined Driveway at Wormsloe Historic site. We also took a quick trip to Jekyll Island to show my parents this beautiful spot on earth. We were lucky enough to get there at Low Tide, thus being able to see the Driftwood Beach we missed during our last visit.Driftwood beach is from years of erosion of the large Oak trees from the oceans side. Driftwood Island is a sort of Cemetery for trees I guess...There is Rip Rap in place to slow down the erosion of the island but as we all know, you cannot stop Mother Nature and Father Time. They will both win in the end.I would like to thank my Saint for taking the time to run me all over the place during this past year! You are such a sweetheart to be HERE AND THERE and In the Garden...