Spanish Moss

We have lived at this address for almost ten years. This year has been the best year for the growth of Spanish Moss that we have ever seen. The moss grows very well in old oaks, but this year it is growing in trees that I have not seen it grow, and it is in abundance. Every week I pull moss that is growing down to head level and brushing my head as I pass under it. It appears to be growing even through the cold spells. Over one hundred years ago, Jacksonville supported a matress business that used Spanish Moss for the stuffing. About 1914 the business had a huge fire which destroyed most of it's drying racks which were set out under groves of massive oaks. That fire caused a set back for Jacksonville business and we had a local depression because of it. The fire is commerated in a downtown resturant named "Mossfire." When I first went to that resturant and saw the old pictures of the business on the wall, I wondered where did they get enough moss to stuff into all the matresses. Well, they must have had years like we are having now. In case you are wondering, "Can the moss be pulled off and used?" No, for comercial matress sales it must be chemically treated to kill bugs and organisms, then washed and dried. The moss is soft, even when pulled from the tree, and in a pinch, it can be nicely used for bedding without treatment.