Whenever I'm at Hollywood, I find sculpture and monuments there that are totally amazing. It's hard, sometimes, to keep my concentration on the job at hand ... it's so easy to get distracted by all the beauty in the stones and statues around us.
I had to stand on a wall to get this shot. Such high relief, with the cross on the top of this crypt and the roses strewn about, as if scattered by a loved one.
The wear and patina on this monument, with the roses tucked into the rolls of the scroll, was amazing in person.
This is the top of a tall monument. Look at the detail and delicacy of the tassel on the left. I'm not surprised that the two on the right are damaged, and am completely amazed that the one has survived for over a hundred years.
Look carefully at this bouquet, and imagine the skill that was necessary to carve it ... unbelievable 3D high relief, with roses, Lily of the Valley, ferns, Morning Glories, lilies, delicate stems, and a ribbon tying it all together!
I have photographed this little dove dozens of times. There's just something about the simplicity of it, combined with the weathering and patina, that draws me in every time I see it. It is in the Crenshaw plot ... a plot I visit almost every time I go to Hollywood.
For the rose history lovers among you, here are some images of the famous Musk rose. This rose was thought to be extinct, until this specimen was discovered in the 1980s.
This rose is a treasure, and it needs a good bit of TLC to get it into shape. The crown is a tangle of old, dead, and crossing canes, and the base is a mess.
On Rose Day, I will put one of my very best, most experienced volunteers to work on this. It will be time consuming, but very rewarding to see a treasure like this put into shape to grow and bloom and thrive.
Speaking of Rose Day ... there's only 10 days to go! I'm so excited to be doing this!!!
There's still time to volunteer to help, if you're interested. (hint, hint)