Saturday, February 25, 2012

Saturday Snapshot: Spanish Moss



Snapshot Saturday is hosted by Alyce of At Home with Books. To participate in the Saturday Snapshot meme post a photo that you (or a friend or family member) have taken then leave a direct link to your post in the Mister Linky. Photos can be old or new, and be of any subject as long as they are clean and appropriate for all eyes to see. How much detail you give in the caption is entirely up to you. Please don't post random photos that you find online.


The ever so pervasive Spanish moss says you are definitely in the south.  It even gets into the rough bark trunks of palm trees. If you're not familiar with this and visit the south, do not pick it if it's low lying moss. It's full of biting chiggers. Moss hanging high from tree should be okay as the chiggers like low to the ground and damp spots. Still, be careful!

Actually, botanically, it isn't even moss. It's an epiphyte or air plant having no roots. It does produce seeds, though, and is propagated in new locations by blowing winds or birds.

Daughter Steph thinks this is the creepiest stuff ever. The trees below are so full of it, it looks like it's raining moss.






















25 comments:

  1. I've never seen this up close and personal, only through photos. Think it looks awesome, but not sure I'd feel the same way if it grew around my house...LOL

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  2. I got chiggers from Spanish Moss once when I was young and I've never touched it again. I avoid that stuff like the plague!

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  3. Oh, my, what an impressive series of photos. I like the description of "raining moss."

    I've often wanted to see these kinds of plants and trees up close.

    But I've never even been to Florida...sigh.

    Thanks for sharing.

    Here's MY SATURDAY SNAPSHOT

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  4. Great pics! It's so much a part of Southern atmosphere in many of the books I've read. Didn't know about the chiggers - yikes!

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  5. I lived in NC for many years which was probably too far north for Spanish moss, but boy did we have chiggers! They itch like crazy.

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  6. I agree with your daughter... it looks very creepy!

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  7. I'm going to agree with creepy looking. I've never seen this moss before and I've traveled in the south. I'll remember not to touch if I ever do see it. Just the thought of chiggers makes me itchy.

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  8. My mother just bought a house in Florida and is complaining about the Spanish Moss. Not a fan myself.

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  9. I live in Florida, have 15 huge old trees in my yard, and lots of moss hanging everywhere.

    My husband told me his grandfather used to make pillows to sell, stuffed with the moss.

    Here's My Photo

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  10. I love the look of Spanish moss, although I understand it is invasive and damaging. But it really does lend atmosphere to a place.

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  11. Chiggers are just one of the things I am ignorant of living in the Pacific Northwest. It makes me wonder in what other ways I would unknowingly harm myself while exploring the south. :)

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  12. I saw this in Missouri once. Luckily I was just about drowned in insect repellant and didn't get any chiggers. My host mum forgot the insect repellant and itched all they way back to LA. I kept saying "don't scratch" and got ill tempered looks for days :-)

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  13. Here in NY state I'm not familiar with Spanish Moss at all. Some photos are so pretty and others are haunting. I understand why Steph thinks it's creepy! It's also good to know about the chiggers because I had no idea about that either. :)

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  14. It is pretty creepy looking actually, but it gives great atmosphere and makes for great photos.

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  15. How cool! It does look creepy. What the heck is chiggers though?

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  16. I agree that the Spanish Moss is picturesque and I didn't know about the chiggers either, even though I lived in Florida for 5 years. It's better than kudzu! Here's Mine

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  17. I think it's beautiful! It has an other-worldly appearance.

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  18. It is a little creepy and the chiggers...now way!

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  19. The first time we ever saw that we wondered what on earth it was... we being an English couple venturing down south for the time, and very green around the gills. LOL.

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  20. Natural tinsel. ;) I've seen it before when we'vew gone to Florida, but we didn't touch it and I wouldn't now. Looks a bit like Hallowe'en.

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  21. I think the moss looks cool, it is a bit creepy though. I hadn't heard of chiggers before. I googled them and they look a bit like red ticks to me, the bites sure look nasty.

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  22. Great shots of the Spanish moss -- reminds me of when I lived in Louisiana. I always loved the look of the stuff, but never got close enough to any of it to touch. Didn't know about the chiggers!

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  23. I think it looks creepy too -- it gives an air of mystery and danger to everything.

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  24. I was thinking how cool that moss looked until you mentioned chiggers! Ick! The word just makes me itch!

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