Spanish moss and Geese

The Choctaw believed that Spanish moss originated from the hair of the daughter of the ‘Father of a Thousand Leaves’ after she was murdered. The Father of a Thousand Leaves demanded that all of the trees in the land mourn the death of his daughter.

Spanish moss has had many uses throughout the millennia, from pottery making by Native Americans to providing blankets during the Civil War. It also had its place in the modern world, serving as insulation, a binder in construction materials, and even as stuffing in automobile seats. The use of Spanish moss diminished as synthetic fibers were developed, but animals still use the epiphytic flowering plant as nesting material. The goslings that hatch in this nest on a tree island in a swamp along the North Landing River will start life in luxury. 

Schedule your ecotour to explore this environmental wonderland.