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MANMADe, NATurAL BeAuTy While civic and war history engage many, the art history in cemeteries also should be noticed. Cemeteries large and small typically contain a gate, sometimes simple, sometimes ornate, which signifies the separation between the everyday world and the cemetery space. A 30-foot-tall obelisk, representing eternal life from the Haldeman family plot, greets visitors to Harrisburg Cemetery. Tombstones on the grounds hold symbolic art. Anchors represent hope, ferns sorrow and lambs innocence. e Old Public Graveyard contains many family plots with iron gates, some with intricate scrollwork, conveying a sense of privacy for the deceased. Examples of white bronzes exist in both Harrisburg Cemetery and the Old Public Graveyard. ese gray headstones, made of a combination of copper, tin and zinc, show little weathering even after a century of exposure. e natural beauty of cemeteries is another draw. Quiet places, they provide a serene environment to walk, write, read or explore. Harrisburg Cemetery, in particular, has a wonderful array of plant life. In appreciation of its many flowering trees, the cemetery held a tree walk in April. Trees include the well-known flowering dogwood, the crabapple and the northern red oak, as well as the less- recognized Kentucky coffee tree with its unusual pods, the English hawthorn lined with thorns and the Japanese pagoda tree, which sports bumpy, string bean-type seeds. Via pointed out ivy growing on a stone that originated from a trimming from Martin Luther's grave. Similar to English ivy but smaller in size, he calls it "Martin Luther's ivy." Before visiting a cemetery, do a little research. Often, online, printable guides will direct visitors to points of interest within the cemetery and to any special artistic and planting features. Visitors should follow posted rules, which often vary from cemetery to cemetery. While they provide a park-like atmosphere, with lots of space, grass and trees, cemeteries are not playgrounds. Stones are heavy and often old and could seriously injure someone standing or leaning on them. Groundhogs, which frequent cemeteries, burrow under stones, leaving large holes. Tread carefully. Cemeteries serve as the burial ground for the dead, but offer much to the living. ose looking for a way to spend a summer day may want to consider a visit. Even the skeptical should try it once, as they may have a similar reaction to students who spent time in Midland Cemetery. As Barksdale put it, "Once I got them, they were hooked." FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THE CEMETERIES MENTIONED: hALLoWeD grouNDS Tour: centralpahallowedgrounds.blogspot.com hArrISBurg CeMeTery: sites.google.com/site/harrisburgcemetery MIDLAND CeMeTery: Friends of Midland Cemetery on Facebook oLD PuBLIC grAveyArD, CArLISLe: visitcumberlandvalley.com

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