Have pomegranate, will travel

By Chelsie Vandaveer

June 4, 2002

National Geographic—>Click here.

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Suggested Reading—>Click here.

Assorted Killer Savings Garden Links—>Click here.

Killer Picks: Professionally Designed Gardens—>Click here.

The Gift of Kings, Almanac of Geography, Marco Polo Gemstone Earrings—>Click here.

Dwarf Citrus Fruit Collection—>Click here.

Phoenicia (Canaan) was a land of cities, a strip of coast between the mountains of Lebanon and the Mediterranean. It was a crossroads where overland trade and sea routes met. By the Fifteenth Century BCE, Phoenicia was an empire of business and trade.

Dwarf Pomegranate—Flowers and Fragrance, Too! Evergreen foliage, sweetly scented flowers and edible fruit in one! Can be moved outdoors in summer, so the bees take care of pollination for you. Varieties grow from 2-5 feet tall, and pomegranate smaller. Pick pomegranates in 2-4 years. Potted plants. Click here to get $20 off your first order at Gurneys! House & Patio Plants For Sale!

Arabian caravans brought cedar, linen, onyx, pearls, ebony, and spices from the east. Frankincense and myrrh came from Arabia Felix and Ethiopia. From the north came horses, copper, and slaves. From Egypt and Afghanistan came grains; from the African interior: ivory, gold, and exotic animals.

Arabian caravans carried not only trade goods, but necessary supplies, water, and food for the travelers. Somewhere along the route, traders from India probably introduced the pomegranate (Punica granatum Linnaeus) to the Arabs. The fruit was not the most valuable item on the routes, but possibly the most useful.

The pomegranate's leathery-skin provided a long storage life. Containing up to 85 percent water, the fruit supplied liquid and minerals—calcium, iron, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium—lost to perspiration. Ancient traders thought this refreshment the 'fruit of Paradise'. The trees were tolerant of drought, heat, and neglect. Wherever Arabian caravansaries or Phoenician sea colonies were built, pomegranates were planted to supply travelers.

A Bequest Unearthed, Phoenicia, is a wonderful website about this ancient civilization. To learn more about the Phoenicians and the trade routes of the ancient world, click on the link:

http://www.phoenicia.org/

killerPlants Tendrils: ~~1~~2~~3~~4~~5~~

Unique Professionally Designed Gardens

Springhill Nursery®

Spring Hill Nursery has unique gardens professionally designed by experts to take the guesswork out of gardening. Whether you are looking for a three season garden, foundation garden, or a garden to attract hummingbirds and butterflies, Spring Hill Nursery has created a step-by-step design just for you. Click here - $20 off your first order at Spring Hill Nursery!

The Gift of Kings

National Geographic®

The gifts of the Magi to the infant Jesus bear a special significance during this season. Many people have heard of frankincense and myrrh, but few have ever seen them or experienced their beautiful aroma. Fragrant resins harvested from trees indigenous to the coastal plains of southern Arabia, frankincense and myrrh were used by the ancient Greeks and Romans for medicinal, religious, and cosmetics applications.

Our exclusive dome-topped wood box with intricate inlay is made in Syria. Inside you'll find a velvet pouch filled with nuggets of white frankincense and reddish myrrh, plus information on their history, legend, and for use. Enjoy some on your evening fire, or use as incense.
—>Click here for price and more info... [More For The Home Products...]

National Geographic Almanac of Geography

National Geographic®

This comprehensive, illustrated almanac is packed with fascinating information about the entire physical world and its peoples and contains hundreds of photographs, drawings, charts, sidebars, maps, and more.

Who were the earliest mapmakers? What makes the seasons change? What causes violent weather? What exactly is a mineral? What does a geographer do? Organized into four main parts for easy reference—What Is Geography, Physical Geography, Human Geography, and Places—the book provides an answer for every geographic question, from the history of mapmaking to the migration of people around the world to topics such as environmental hazards and cultural identity.

The book also provides useful information about world population, the spread of religion, the growth of cities, the global economy, and the depletion of natural resources. Looking ahead it asks: How many people can the Earth support? Where will they live? What will they do for a living? What languages will they speak? How will the boundaries of nations change in the 21st century?

The book includes an extensive flags-and-facts section featuring the flag of every nation in the world, its capital, territories, physical geography, language, economy, and more. It also contains an extensive glossary, lists of sources for further reading, and a complete index. The new National Geographic Almanac of Geography offers all the latest information you need to understand our world and all that is in it. 200 illustrations. 512 pages. Hardcover. 7 3/8'' x 9 1/4''. © 2005 —>Click here for price and more info... [Click here for more Books & Calendars.]

Marco Polo Gemstone Earrings

National Geographic®

Venetian explorer and trader Marco Polo was one of the first Westerners to travel the Silk Road, bringing European goods to Asia and returning with, among other things, precious gems. Here, the journey is embodied in garnet, peridot, amethyst, and granulated gold vermeil.

Renaissance designer Benvenuto Cellini's work for the Medici family is adapted by Chinese jewelers using faceted gems mined in India—true fusion of three cultures. Read more about Marco Polo's journey in Mike Edwards' 2001 series of articles for National Geographic magazine. —>Click here for price and more info...

[Click here for more Culture & History Products...]

Dwarf Citrus Fruit Collection

Gurney's Seed and Nursery®

With the Dwarf Citrus Fruit Collection from Gurney’s, growing fruit trees in containers is fun and easy. All you need is a sunny room that gets at least four hours of direct sunlight from a south window; and in 1-3 years you’ll enjoy tangy lemons, tasty limes, and sweet oranges that you grew yourself! Move them outside in the summer and let the bees pollinate them for you. —>Click here - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!

House & Patio Plants For Sale - $20 off any order for $50 or more at Gurneys.com!