Name That Plant Answer: Jackfruit
What can reach three feet in length, weigh up to 60 lbs and smell like decaying onion? A jackfruit, the largest tree-borne fruit in the world.
Sometimes called jakfruit, it is edible and despite its unpleasant odor when mature and unopened, the flesh is said to smell like pineapple and banana. Many people prefer to eat the fruit before it ripens. The seeds are also edible and prepared a variety of ways according to local customs worldwide. The wood is quite strong and termite-proof – it is used in a variety of applications including furniture and home construction.
Although the tree’s exact origins are unknown, it is likely native to India and has been introduced to tropical locations worldwide. In south Florida, the jackfruit tree is evergreen and grows well in frost-free areas, up to a height of 40 feet. There are several cultivars available that can be kept much shorter, even under ten feet. More information on the cultivars and planting and care of jackfruit can be found courtesy of the UF IFAS Extension Service here.
The Edisons, who had a great interest in unique tropical trees, had at least one jackfruit on their property in 1931. Mina Edison also included the tree on her tour of the gardens in 1938. Our jackfruit, located between the Guest House and McGregor Blvd, recently started producing its fruit. During the next 4-5 months, it will be fun to watch the fruits grow! Will they reach 60 lbs? Stay tuned or come by and see for yourself!
Britta Hanson Soderqvist, Plant Curator
How to quickly add some color to your garden
We’d all love to have this magnificent display of color in our yard, wouldn’t we? This is a recent photo of the bougainvillea behind our ticket office. We sell a variety of bougainvillea in our Garden Shoppe but if you don’t have the patience to wait for yours to reach the size pictured, consider some of the following flowering plants that will make your yard “pop” for the next few months.
We have bulbine – a South African clumping perennial with orange and yellow flowers that is extremely drought tolerant. Choose from several colors of kalanchoe – a drought-tolerant succulent that may even flower year-round if you’re lucky! Crown of thorns is always a good bet for winter-time color. Mandevilla (formerly Diplandenia) is a woody vine with showy pink flowers that are usually out in the summer but may bloom year-round. We also have plenty of Florida-friendly butterfly plants like plumbago and pentas. Many citrus trees bloom now so if you have room for a small tree, consider one of the many varieties we have for sale.
If you do have a bit of patience, you might also consider queen’s wreath (Petrea volubis) – a spectacular vine with purple flowers. The queen’s wreath covering the pergola between the Edison Home and Guest House is blooming right now. We have a few small individual vines for sale – they were hard to come by so don’t wait hoping to find a larger plant! If you plant one this spring, it should have a few blooms by next winter.
Britta Hanson Soderqvist, Plant Curator
Name That Plant, Win a Plant!
The first person to correctly name this plant wins a free purple firespike plant, which was featured last week. Contest ends Feb 15 – we’ll add a few more clues over the next few days if no one guesses correctly. If you sign up for the email alerts (top right of the blog), you’ll be the first to know when new clues have been added!
Contest Rules: Leave a comment on Facebook or the Garden Blog with your answer. The person with the first correct answer will receive a free purple firespike plant. The winner will be announced on the Estates Garden Blog and on Facebook. Plants must be picked up from the Edison and Ford Winter Estates within 7 days of contest end (and, no, we can’t ship them!). If you have won previously, please wait 60 days before guessing again.
New Discovery Leads to Bigger Edison 164th Birthday Celebration on February 11 at the Edison & Ford Winter Estates
On February 11, 1929, Thomas and Mina Edison, Henry and Clara Ford, Harvey and Idabelle Firestone, and President-Elect Herbert Hoover and his wife Lou and son Herbert Jr., rode through the streets of Fort Myers in honor of the world-famous inventor’s 82nd birthday. A motorcade of six cars carrying the famous vistors, accompanied by the Secret Service and mounted and motorcycled police, were included in the parade. The guests rode from the historic Edison Park neighborhood through downtown Fort Myers and down McGregor Boulevard to Seminole Lodge, Edison’s Florida estate.
Thomas Edison and Henry Ford, both winter residents of Southwest Florida, enjoyed tremendous international popularity due to their inventions, industries, and achievements. The arrival of President-Elect Hoover was an incredible event for a town of less than 10,000 people. More than 20,000 residents from Lee County and surrounding areas watched the motorcade from the streets and rooftops of Fort Myers. The Fort Myers Press reported, “A warm sun shone brightly as the distinguished cavalcade moved through the streets on the 876th consecutive day of sunshine in Fort Myers.”
Mrs. Frank Alderman stepped off the porch of her First Street home in historic Dean Park to hand Mrs. Hoover a bouquet of roses picked from Mrs. Alderman’s garden.
After the parade, the guests enjoyed a private lunch at Seminole Lodge, watched students from Edison Park School perform a dance, and then relayed a nationwide radio broadcast from the garden of the inventor’s Florida retreat. During the broadcast Edison remarked, “I wish I could invite all of you to have some birthday cake, but unfortunately we can’t eat by radio – just yet. I’ll have to work on that problem.”
President –Elect Hoover and his wife spent the night on their yacht the Saunterer, anchored between Fort Myers and Punta Rassa in the Caloosahatchee River. Herbert Hoover, Jr. was an honored guest at Seminole Lodge.
This year the festivities on Edison’s 164th birthday on February 11th at the Edison and Ford Winter Estates include:
• 10 AM Birthday Celebration begins with performance by Edison Park School of the Creative and Expressive Arts students and birthday cake. The event is free to the public and is sponsored by the Estates and Edison Pageant of Light.
• 11 AM Motorcade with Mr. Edison and President Hoover departing the Edison Estate to downtown Fort Myers.
• 5:30 PM- 8 PM the Estates Museum will be open to the public with free admission. The Estates Inventors Museum has an impressive collection of inventions and artifacts, special exhibits, archives and video documentaries on the lives of the famous inventors. Invention demonstrations and informal tours will be presented by the Edison “muckers.” The programs are designed for families with children and will be offered throughout the evening.
• During the month of February selected Edison items and books will be 10% off in the Museum Store.
Edison’s birthday celebration is a sanctioned event of the Edison Festival of Light.
The Estates is open daily from 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. The Estates is the winner of the 2009 National Stewardship Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures” at the National Trust for Historic Preservation, a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. For additional information call 239-334-7419 or visit the web site at www.efwefla.org.
Plant Spotlight: Purple Firespike
If you’re looking for a tall, winter-time butterfly plant, purple firespike, Odontonema callistachyum, is a good choice for southern Florida. Growing up to six feet tall, it starts blooming in autumn and the blooms may last through winter in Zone 10. It will die back in a hard freeze but should re-sprout in the spring in Zones 8-9. Although it’s rated for full sun to partial shade, it may wilt during the intense summer sun in southern Florida. You may prefer to trim it back in the summer to keep it in check. Once established, firespike is drought tolerant and should attract many winged visitors to your yard.
Cardinal flower, Odontonema stictum, is a close relative and has red flowers. It was included in a list of plants grown on the Estates from 1901-1941. Given the Edisons’ interest in nature, it’s likely the cardinal flower was one of many species planted to attract butterflies and birds.
Our Garden Shoppe sells purple firespike in two gallon pots for $12. We also carry a variety of butterfly and hummingbird plants to complement the firespike. Don’t forget, Estates members save 10% on all purchases, including plants!
Britta Hanson Soderqvist, Plant Curator
