Edison Research Laboratory/Goldenrod Project
September 4, 2013
With the completion of the restoration of the Edison Research Laboratory building, staff and consultants are continuing research and development to understand and replicate the exciting work that Edison was conducting for this project almost a hundred years ago.
This summer, garden staff and volunteers began the work to restore some of the beds of rubber producing plants that were tested on site by Edison and his research staff. The photo shows the goldenrod beds that were planted this summer and our giant thriving goldenrod. Plants were started by seed several months ago and are maturing well with summer rains and heat.
Of all of the 17,000 plants tested, goldenrod proved to be the best suited to the Florida environment growing to a staggering 15 feet and able to be harvested several times a year. In fact, a variety was named for the scientist himself, Thomas Edison, pictured here in 1929.
