Its a Start!

  Years ago when Hurricane Katrina whipped through the area, she left little behind that was recognizable.  Things around here were pretty much obliterated.  We were among the fortunate as the Little Bayou House withstood the ravages of the storm.  It had major damage but was still home.  We tore down what was needed, repaired and rebuilt.  The land, however, was in total destruction.  Huge ruts were washed in the hillside, over a hundred large trees were down and there was nary a bit of green left anywhere.  The house has been mostly restored and Mother Nature has done a remarkable job of mending her wounds.  Things are different but the place is pretty much back to normal. Whatever that is.

  One thing that Katrina took was the Spanish Moss that draped each old oak tree.  The moss gave character the the Live Oaks that dot the hillside.  Where and how, the storm took the moss is beyond me.  It was just gone...never to be seen again.  I so missed this icon of the Deep South.  I yearned to have it wafting in the Bay breezes, so much so, that I envied places that still had it and threatened to swipe a bit!  

  I tried draping the moss from a florist shop in the trees but, obviously, that was a moot point.  Their Spanish Moss is treated and is not still living.  I bemoaned the fact that my trees were bare!  Then, the same waters that were churned by the hurricane, brought in a replacement.   Being just a tropical storm, the surge was not nearly as intense as Katrina's but gave just enough high tide to throw a few things into the yard.  As I was cleaning the mess, a bit of tangled moss caught my eye.  Spanish Moss!  A small clump had been flung from a tree across the Bay and rode the waves to the front yard!  

  I was not sure if being dunked in salt water would kill the moss or not but I had to try.  I rinsed the moss and tossed it into the low-lying limbs of my favorite Live Oak tree!!  For months, the tendrils seemed to be drying out which saddened me.  Today, however, a bit of life could be seen returning to the clump!  Oh, my goodness!  It almost felt like I was finally coming home!  

  Hopefully, the Spanish Moss will continue to grow and actually thrive in the oak tree.  It would be grand to have the trees all dripping with the long tendrils of greenish-gray moss once again.  I know it is a small thing but it means the world to me!