Charleston: Spanish Moss (isn't)

[Mike Buckley]

Spanish moss is neither Spanish nor moss. It is a flowering plant, though the flowers are so tiny they're typically not noticed. It's commonly called an "air plant" because it absorbs its nutrients and water from the air and rainfall. The moss thrives on cypress trees and live oak trees (that's the name of the species; not a distinction from dead trees).

It's a lot more difficult to photograph Spanish moss than I anticipated, but I wasn't about to leave South Carolina without some keepers. I settled on looking for a combination of three characteristics -- attractive patterns, moss that sufficiently stands out from its surroundings, and large amounts of it.

Please click to view in the Lytebox to appreciate the detail in the moss.

[Shadowman]

Nice captures and sense of scale.

[bnnrcn]

Very interesting and nice series

[NorthernFocus]

The term "Spanish Moss" is kind of like a secret handshake down south. Even if they live there, anyone who calls it that is a dead ringer for an outsider. Or a local trying to sell something to an outsider. The true natives just call it moss

With that out of the way, I have to say that you did it justice in this set of shots. Well done.

[Mike Buckley]

Thanks, folks!

[DEAN01]

Number two is definitely a keeper.