“Of all the plants of these curious tree-gardens the most striking and characteristic is the so-called Long Moss (Tillandsia usneoides). It drapes all the branches from top to bottom, hanging in long silvery-gray skeins, reaching a length of not less than eight or ten feet, and when slowly waving in the wind they produce a solemn funereal effect singularly impressive” John Muir, 1867.

John Muir, founder of the US National Parks, naturalist, founder of the Sierra Club spent 6 days camping in Bonaventure. His writings contained many references to the cemetery.

Bonaventure is one of three gothic cemeteries originally envisioned as both a public park and cemetery. The property, like Charleston’s Magnolia Cemetery, was first a plantation and family cemetery.

Bonaventure Cemetery, Savannah, Georgia.