Bonaventure Cemetery, located in Savannah Georgia was one of the most hauntingly beautiful cemeteries I have ever seen. This cemetery has got to be a photographers dream.
Although, no photographer myself, I thought I would pretend for just a day.
And what a place to pretend.
Come along with me.....
Quintessentially Southern Gothic, it has captured the imaginations of writers, poets, naturalists, photographers and filmmakers for more than 150 years. Part natural cathedral, part sculptural garden, Bonaventure transcends time.
The approximately 100-acre cemetery is also historically significant as a reflection of changing views on death and dying in the Victorian era. As death became more romanticized and ritualized during this period, cemeteries became lush, beautiful “cities of the dead.”
Another reason behind Bonaventure’s popularity is John Berendt’s book, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, which featured a cover photo of the now-famous "Bird Girl" statue, formerly located in Bonaventure. The statue has since been moved to the Telfair Museum of Art, founded through the bequest of Mary Telfair, also buried at Bonaventure.
Variations of Palm trees and moss filled Oak trees surround the areas and stones.
Spanish moss grows from hanging branches of trees in Historic Savannah Georgia and throughout the southeastern United States. It requires warm temperatures and high humidity to flourish -- and that it does in Savannah!
It's a good idea not to touch the Spanish Moss -- as it contains chiggers and other bugs.
It's a good thing we did not take any moss home with us.
This particular plot and area really caught our eye. It almost looked like a little hut.
It was pretty remarkable.
Another thing that caught my eye was the Perpetual care inscriptions on the stone. How amazing after 100 years and so on and so on, these plots and stones will always be cared for.
If you ever take a visit to Savannah, GA, I would highly recommend a stop here.
so surreal, so peaceful, so beautiful....
I truly could have spent the entire day here.
My boys on the other hand, said "let's get outta here Mom", what kid wants to be in a cemetery?
Have a great day.
See you tomorrow evening for the newbie party.
For more info on Bonaventure Cemetery
27 Comments:
You did a wonderful job being a "pretending photographer"! Beautiful captures!I am like you and like to walk in the different cemetaries ...the headstones and markers are works of art...and I love the spanish moss on all the beautiful trees (when we first moved here, I thought how awesome it would be to use some of the moss for crafts...but then was told about the chiggers and bugs...so I just admire the lacey look of it from a distance :o)
Blessings & Aloha!
Debbie ... Love these photos. If I had been with you, I could have spent the day there too. Thanks for sharing. We have a very old cemetery that I hope to potograph some day.
Another kindred spirit who finds the beauty in old cemeteries! Thank you, Debbie, for sharing these photos. You did an amazing job and I truly enjoyed this post. This is just the kind of place I would love to visit!
Cool place. Savannah is so full of history. I love the shots you got.
I even think our local cemetery's are peaceful and they look NOTHING like this. This truly is beautiful. Thanks for sharing your great photos. I bet there is some neat ghost stories about this cemetery and Savannah .
You're so right, Debbie - what a hauntingly beautiful location! I love exploring old cemeteries.
Thanks for sharing!
~ Wendi ~ xo
That is a beautiful cemetary. I've been there before, many years ago, and found it to be a sacred gorgeous place. I, too, couldn't believe that I would feel that way about a cemetary. It's unlike any I've ever seen before. Don't forget the beautiful river that runs right beside it! I told my husband that it's too bad that the people that are buried there aren't alive to see it! Ha! They're lucky to be buried there, I think. Hey......I didn't see any ghosts in your pictures either. Guess they weren't out that day. Ha!
Debbie, Thank you so much for the beautiful pictorial of Bonaventure. Your awesome pictures make me want to, again, go spend some time there.
We seem to take for granted the unique beauty in this beautiful city and it's surrounds. From the downtown area to the marshes, rivers and ocean I am blessed to live in the midst of living history and natural beauty.
I haven't been to the cemetary in several years but like you I always find it serene and peaceful.
Thanks for giving Savannah a great "shoutout".
Love you girl, Ginger
Beautiful pictures!!! I loved seeing all the fences too.
Dee
it really is a lovely place, what captures my eye also is how lush and green it still is, we have winter here, I think cemetaries are great places to visit, I love the beautiful stones,
Thanks for the tour. You did a great job photographing its' beauty. I am another one that likes to visit the old cemeteries.
Hi Debbie Dear! Oh, how I want to go to Savannah! I've never been! I would certainly go to this cemetery - it's awesome! Now I just love that book and the movie was a hoot! :)
You did a great job being a photographer for a day! :)
Be a sweetie,
shelia ;)
sounds adventuresome....pulled out an old computer that i forgot i had and so i am now back with the *living* great post Deb
Just beautiful! There's so much history in Savannah...like you're taking a step back in time.
xo
Pat
This is one of my favorite places in Savannah. don'tell people about it! It's a secret!
You did a great job Debbie. Beautiful shots. I love all the gothic details and architecture.
Hi Debbie, we live about 3 hrs from Savannah, close to Atlanta and finally I made it to the cemetary. It is beautiful, kind of spooky and yet overwelming. I could have stayed there for hours reading and wondering about the families. Thanks for sharing. Anita
What a lovely old cemetery. Thank you for the tour--great pictures.
Those are some beautiful pictures, Debbie. You take great pictures.
We used to live in Florida and loved those trees with the moss. I just thought they were so pretty.
Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving. :)
Beautiful. Your photos are awesome! Thanks for sharing.
You took some beautiful pictures! I would have never know you were just "pretending" to be a photographer. :D
I could spend all day in the Bonaventure Cemetery. It is pretty amazing and the architecture is awesome!
I love this post, Debbie! I went to Bonaventure many times as a girl living in Savannah- it was really beautiful in the spring! We took visitors to see it, too! I had to laugh about the moss- we used to play in the woods around our house and often made forts with hanging moss walls!
I didn't know about the moss and bugs. I'm glad I didn't try to pack any away the last time we were in GA. Great images! Thanks for sharing.
I love old cemeteries. We were in Savannah over the summer. Ate at Miss Paula's fine establishment as well. Neat place!
Awesome Debbie! That must have been so great to see in person! I just watched that movie Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil last night (again). Love your pictures!
Beautiful! I adore Savannah--you captured it so well!
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