GROTTO ON BAYOU LAFOURCHE

How long the grotto in honor of Our Lady has been in place on the bank of Bayou Lafourche in Thibodaux, I have no idea, but, only the other day, when I picked my grandson up from day camp, did I first take note.  The grotto is on the main road through town, which makes it quite visible, and I wonder how I could have missed seeing it for however long it's been there.

The grotto stands next to a peaceful scene of Bayou Lafourche, which is a tributary of the Mississippi River. 

The opening to the left of the statue of Mary curves through to the side of the grotto, to what purpose I can't say.

The top photo shows the corner of the bench where visitors can sit and pray, or meditate, or simply rest a while.

Now that I've discovered the structure, I'd like to know something about when it was constructed and by whom.  I Googled, but I found nothing. 

The photo to the right shows the side opening of the grotto.  As you see from the green moss or lichen (or whatever) growing on the stones, the structure has been there a while.

To the right of the grotto is a paved area large enough to park two cars.  The entire concept is well-planned and well-constructed.  Now that I've discovered the grotto, I want to know more.

UPDATE:

Grotto

Our Lady stands
In the small grotto
Built by unknown hands
On the bank of the bayou
And prays in peaceful repose

(June Butler - 7/17/2013)

EGRETS COMING HOME TO ROOST

About this time of the year, we enjoy an amazing drama near one or another of the bridges not far from my house. As the sun begins to set, egrets fly in to roost overnight in a clump of bushes growing on the bank of Bayou Lafourche. Last year the egrets chose a spot near a bridge further up the bayou. Why the birds chose another roost, and why such a large number of birds crowd into one rather small group of bushes, I have no idea.



The bushes in the photo above look pretty well full of roosting egrets, but, as you see in the photo below, more birds are arriving.



Up in the sky, even more birds are flying in. They keep coming until you think that there can't be one more perch available, and still they come.



By the time the egrets settle, the bushes are covered with white birds and a few pairs of blue egrets or herons. Since the blue birds are about the same size as the white birds, I know they are not Great Blue Herons.

I call the street in the background Visual Blight Boulevard. Big box chains, franchise restaurants and take-outs, service stations, giant concrete parking lots, and everything ugly lines the street on both sides. You could be in Anytown or Anycity for the sameness of the blight.

PS: I've redone the pictures so that a click on the pic will give you a somewhat larger view.