Living Things:
Cemetery Plants

Copyright 1997, 2000 by Joel GAzis-SAx

As cemetery landscapes become diverse and our heirs to this earth wonder for what reason we chose this vegetation, other plants will enter the taxonomies of symbolic sepulchre gardening. The human imagination will doubtless translate the rapid growth of the eucalyptus, the longevity of the redwood, and the deep crimsom of the carnation into new symbols. We find meaning because we beg for it.

Photos: 1: Mount Desert Island, Maine; 2: Cypress Lawn, Colma, California; 3: Salem Memorial Park, Colma, California; 4: Italian Cemetery, Colma, California;
Copyright 1995, 1996, 1997, 2000 by Joel GAzis-SAx.