The Prince of Tides is Dead

Pat Conroy died yesterday. Conroy was the author of such impassioned novels such as The Great Santini, The Lords of Discipline and The Prince of Tides. All of these works were made into memorable movies that I would recommend to nearly anyone.

Conroy's description of the salt marshes of the South Carolina lowlands in The Prince of Tides made me seek out salt marshes upon my relocation to Florida and to visit and walk among the hundreds of bronze and marble sculptures at the 9,000+ acres Brookgreen Gardens near Muriel's Inlet, SC (patience, the site loads slowly). Mormon visitors to Brookgreen Gardens will be undoubtedly be very interested in the scupltures of Mahonri Moriancumer Young, grandson of Brigham Young, whose works are represented at Brookgreen Gardens, and whose sculptures also include the Seagull Monument on Temple Square, in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the "This is the Place" monument in Emigration Canyon east of Salt Lake City proper.

Salt marshes quickly became one of my favorite Florida ecosystems, and are among the most nutrient-rich and productive natural communties in the state. The Clog-wife and I have a 4' x 2' painting of a Cedar Key, Florida salt marsh, by Gainesville artist Eleanor Blair, hanging in our living room. The painting captures the surprising light and varied hues perfusing a local salt marsh, as an unseen Sun pierces the clouds of a brief afternoon thunderstorm.

Flat Stanley has visited Cedar Key, and has even kayaked among the salt marshes there.