Monday, September 17, 2012

Taphophile Tragics # 39


This headstone, and grave, is to commemorate the life, and death of Catherin Paskell who died in August 1898. The mason forgot to leave sufficient space to tell us how old Catherin was. I was taken by the method of decoration. I have seen plain headstones, I have seen small (growing) annuals, cut blooms, and all variety of artificial flowers. It is not often that I have seen a bush of this size. I shudder to think how far the roots go downb.

Manly Cemetery, New South Wales, Australia




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Welcome to the 39th week of Taphophile Tragics.

Your contribution is most welcome. Please ensure that you include some details of the cemetery in which you took your photographs, and link directly to your post, rather than simply to your blog in general. This week, Mr Linky opens at 9:30pm Monday, Sydney time (GMT+10), and closes at 9:30pm on the Friday. When you can, please visit the other contributing bloggers to show your appreciation of their endeavours. Due to time zone variations and overcrowded schedules, some contributions are made later than Tuesday/Wednesday. As per usual, we are working with the Linky with thumbnails, and displaying the oldest entry first, with no randomising.

At the moment, there are three posts a week to this blog:
Mon - Research of an individual from the details on their headstone;
Wed - An example of funerary symbolism and its meaning; and
Fri - 'Six-Feet-Down-Under' highlighting an Australian cemetery/graveyard.
Join me if that sounds of interest.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

It is interesting that so many words were fitted in, but not her age. And I agree -- this planting is rather large. It does look like it's nicely tended, and the stone is so readable -- very nice photos!

VioletSky said...

I have seen many trees planted next to a stone, but never before in front of a stone

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

Maybe it was a self-seeded tree? Or someone with little knowledge fo botany but full of good intentions planted what they thought was a small, low shrub? :-)

Thanks for hosting, Julie. Mr Linky is not working for me this morning. I'll try later:

http://melbournedaily.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/flagstaff-gardens.html

Melbourne Australia Photos said...

Mr Linky is alive and well! :-)

hamilton said...

he also spelled 'memory' wrong.
that tree position is absurd looking. it seems odd that it has lasted this long without someone taking care of it and removing it.

Julie said...

It does look unusual, I grant you that. However, it is well tended. It is trimmed, and the grave bed is weeded. I see it as deliberate. Not my choice had I known of its habit. Prefer a bed of lively yellow gazanias, or the like.

SeaThreePeeO said...

Interesting stone, such and unusual colour. I often wonder why people plant such huge bushes and trees on graves as they damage the stones as well

Jack said...

The red is odd. I don't see gravestones aging into red over here.

Julie said...

I think the red is a lichen. I see it a fair bit over here. Specific stones of a fair duration, like a hundred years,.

Mark R said...

In England (where the church wardens are very touchy about how churchyards are used), this shrub might even have been cut down.
However, I like it. It brings the natural into what might be sometimes a sad environment.

Julie said...

Thursday evening, and I have wended my way around you all again this week. Many thanks for your always thoughtful, and diverse, contributions.