The Senator

The Senator, 1930

This is the story of a beloved tree in Longwood, Florida.  The Senator was the oldest, biggest bald cypress in the world.  It was believed to be about 3,500 years old.  It was here before my ancestors or your ancestors, unless you are Native American.

The Seminole Indians used it as a landmark.  After civilization came to Florida, folks from everywhere came to see The Senator.

Winter Park Art Show art made from The General

And then, in 2012, a woman hopped over the fence you see in this photo from 1930, and crawled inside a hallow part of the base of the tree in order to hide while she smoked crystal meth.

In doing so she burned down The General.  If you lived in Florida at the time you are aware of what a tragedy it was.

This morning we went to the fall art show in Winter Park.  We didn't mean to.  We always go to Park Avenue on Saturday morning so we were just pleasantly surprised to see the park covered with white booths filled with art.  What a treat.

One of the booths surprised me by being filled exclusively with art sculptured from The General.  The artist told me that the state contacted artists about doing something creative with what little was left of the tree.  So there were the beautifully carved objects.  Somehow I found this healing.




***