Cicadas hummed loudly in the trees and marsh frogs croaked their summer song while we admired the latest Tree Spirit, The Lady of Belle Point. Of the 11 Spirits we’d located so far, only one had been female.
A few days ago, in a marsh-side subdivision north of Brunswick, Georgia, we found the 11th Tree Spirit – the “other woman.”
She’s a serene beauty carved in a very different style from the other Spirits, and her location in a deep cleft in the live oak is perfect.
I don’t know the artist, Keith Jennings, but the more I learn about him, the better I like him. On the Tree Spirit’s Facebook page, Keith reveals some artistic details about the carving.
An old time islander & local character, Larry Gwin, collaborated with me in carving the Lady of Belle Point. It was a chilly & foggy week in the winter; we usually stopped early each day to warm ourselves up over a brew and pool game at Murphy’s Tavern. Larry and I had many heated discussions on how the breasts should be portrayed, usually after several beers.”
On the same day, we drove to the north end of the island to find two others, but couldn’t locate either. Whether poor directions, dead trees, or map malfunction, it’s all part of the mystery and fun of the Tree Spirits.
Happy Trails,
James
P.S. For those that want to see the Lady of Belle Point, she’s located in the Belle Point subdivision, north of Brunswick, off Highway 17. Go to Plantation Road, at the southeast end of the neighborhood, drive to the end of the street, around the cul-de-sac, and she’s on the right.
GALLIVANCE 