Photo of the day

The Dreamer

Beside a meandering stream, in a shady grove behind Cameron Bandshel, the Moss Lady rests among the ferns in Victoria’s Beacon Hill Park.

The sculpture, inspired by the similar Mud Maid earth-sculpture in the Lost Gardens of Heligan, near Mevagissy in Cornwall, was created by gardener Dale Doebert and fellow City of Victoria employees. The slumbering six-foot-long cement head was crafted by Louie Macedo and Jamie De Amaral.

With $30,000 and 300 hours of labour invested in the creation, the Mossy Maid was unveiled, clothed in her Bryphota finery, in late 2015. In the interim, she has accumulated a veritable walk-in … or lay-down closet of verte couture.

As well as common gametophytes and sporophytes, she has also attracted a host of dwarf males (AKA phyllodioicy). No surprise then that I should have returned today to admire her evolving form. She has modelled for me on a couple of previous occasions, yet I felt I had not captured her earthy essence. Today, I believe I have gotten closer to reflecting the archetypal spirit that inspired her creators. In turn, she has inspired me to take a nap.