We get all kinds of emails here at Naked Philly, with readers pointing out run-of-the-mill development activity, interesting looking buildings, and assorted oddities around town. The other day, a reader tipped us off to some religious-looking overgrowth in a parking lot on the 700 block of Catharine, one of our favoriter blocks in Bella Vista. He tabbed it Homem Verde Redentor (Green Man Redeemer), in homage to Cristo Redentor at Mt. Corcovado in Brazil.

The parking lot

The Green Man Redeemer

This parking lot was once home to the House of Industry School, a long-demolished school for the needy. Across the street, the wonderful Fleisher Art Memorial makes its home in a a building that once housed the Episcopal Church of the Evangelist. Perhaps this overgrowth is familiar with the religious history of the block?

Fleisher Art Memorial, a former church

Closer look at the green man

Clearly, this foliage is a mere coincidence, with vines growing along what appear to be utility lines. Since the lot is owned by Fleisher, we’re guessing it won’t be developed anytime soon- so we imagine we’ll be seeing it again in the summers to come.

If you’d like to see more musings from the reader who discovered and named this religious overgrowth, click here.