This Old Tree

03-25-23 The Edison Banyan - This Old Tree

Host Doug Still explores The Edison Banyan in this month's This Old Tree. Why did Thomas Edison plant a banyan tree sapling at his winter residence in 1926? You guessed it, there was an experiment involved. Native to India, it is now a massive, beloved tree at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates in Fort Myers, Florida. While this isn’t an “escape from the lab” story, it is sort of a “took over the lab” story! Debbie Hughes, the Horticultural Director, explains what happened. Also, we dig into the mythology of fig trees - specifically “strangler” figs - and their critical ecological and cultural importance with rainforest ecologist and author Mike Shanahan. https://thisoldtree.buzzsprout.com/

02-25-23 Harlem’s Tree of Hope - This Old Tree

Host Doug Still explores Harlem's Tree of Hope in this month's This Old Tree. Picture yourself in Harlem in New York City in the 1920s. There's a cultural awakening: jazz and dance, theater and literature, big celebrities, and lots of new talent looking for a break. And, of course - because this is a show about trees - there's a tree that becomes a symbol of the Harlem Renaissance. It's the Tree of Hope, and it was a good luck charm for black performers looking to make the big time. Garden historian and storyteller Abra Lee tells the story of this tree's rise to fame, demise, and enduring legacy. https://thisoldtree.buzzsprout.com/