the child died before their parents.
Branches set at right angles to the
trunk form a cross and represent the
Christian beliefs of the deceased.
The family (or the carver) took the family name to heart when they included woodpecker
or sapsucker holes in the trunk as a detail on this treestone.
Plants are frequently carved
into treestones. Ivy on the tree
trunk indicates the deceased
was the head of the family. The
Christmas fern and English ivy,
both evergreen plants, symbolize the promise of life after
death. The lily and morning glory
are used to represent resurrection. The oak leaf and acorn
stand for power and authority
and are often seen on military
graves. Mushrooms represent
life emerging from decay or
death. A fern carved at the base
of a treestone symbolizes humility and sincerity because these
plants are generally found deep
in the forest and only by those
who have honestly searched.
Animals are also common motifs
on treestones. A dove with a
broken wing is often nestled in
a branch or is shown in flight,
representing the Spirit descending from heaven, or carries an
olive branch, depicting peace. A
squirrel symbolizes planning for
the future. A butterfly's meaning is derived from the three
stages of a butterfly's life: caterpillar, chrysalis, and the butterfly—symbolizing life, death,
and resurrection, respectively.
A dog symbolizes loyalty, indicating that the deceased was
worth loving.
This woodland cross festooned with ivy illustrates the fascination with all things rustic in the
Victorian Age.
www.urban-forestry.com
Tools, chairs, buckets, swords,
and a variety of other earthly
items were carved into treestones to tell the story of the
deceased's vocation and interests. A less mystic or cryptic
way of identifying the deceased
was carving a treestone so it
appeared that a scroll had been
hung or nailed to the trunk, or
that the bark had been peeled
away to place the epitaph of
those buried there.
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