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How were children enchanted by gumbo-limbo?

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Killer Picks: Wollemi Pine, greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century—>Click here.

Rocking chair, Leather chest, Accent table, Armchair, Nested tables, End table—>Click here.

The gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba (L.) Sargent) is a New World tropical member of the frankincense family, the Burseraceae. The tree forms only three or four branches from the trunk which gives it an open, domed crown. It is a strikingly beautiful tree with shiny pinnate leaves and red exfoliating (peeling) bark. Better still, this is a huggable tree. Even on a hot day, the bark feels cool to the skin.

Plant of the Week 09/03/2007

The gumbo-limbo (Bursera simaruba (L.) Sargent)
Plant of the Week 09/03/2007

Propagation of gumbo-limbos is easy. Trees that have blown over during hurricanes will root along the downside of the trunk and the tree will become a thicket of trees. A gumbo-limbo can be started by breaking a branch, even a large branch, and pushing the end into the ground.

In a matter of months, a property owner can have a great start on a shade tree for a patio or a living fence from a row of branches. Although it is a fast growing tree, it is unusually strong and wind resistant.

Gumbo-limbo is a utilitarian tree. The wood is soft and easily carved. The Seminole and Miccosukee shaped medicine bowls from the tree using shark’s teeth or chert flakes; Haitians constructed drums. Even today, painted figurines from Mexico or Central America are whittled from the gumbo-limbo.

And long before standardized molded plastic came on scene, there were beautiful, prancing, no-two-alike horses that whirled to the music of the calliope. Thousands of children were charmed by the magical ponies carved from gumbo-limbo wood by carnival workers during their winter stays in Florida.

The South Florida Archaeology and Ethnography department of the Florida Museum of Natural History at the University of Florida in Gainesville has a photograph of an ancient bowl made of gumbo-limbo wood. To view the photograph, click on the link:

Click here to view the photograph

(Compiled from: “Bursera simaruba”, Edward F. Gilman and Dennis G. Watson, Fact Sheet ST-104, Cooperative Extension Service and the US Forest Service, IFAS, University of Florida, Nov. 1993 and personal observations)

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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!

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Cedar and leather rocking chair, 'Nobility'

NOVICA®

Gleaming bronze buttons and richly tooled leather confer a regal air on this cedar wood rocking chair. The lustrous leather is embellished with graceful arabesques. Comfortable and distinguished, the elegant design is expertly hand-crafted by the Rios Family.

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Leather chest, 'Antique Treasure'

NOVICA®

Emulating an antique treasure, Fidel Barrientos crafts an heirloom chest. Antique in style, it is covered with tooled leather, the lavish motifs created in beautiful color. Its generous size and carved feet permit it to be placed directly on the floor. A wrought iron latch and handles enhance its colonial appearance.

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Leather and cedar accent table, 'Cumbres, Country Collection'

NOVICA®

"This table is from my latest 'Country' collection," explains Abel Ríos as he presents this magnificent accent table. "The collection showcases my expertise with leather and wood, and features forged iron accents, a new field I'm currently exploring." Hand-crafted from cedar wood, the table stands on turned mohena wood legs. Ríos finds a theme in Spanish colonial furniture for this lovely design.

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Cedar and leather armchair, 'Royal Throne'

NOVICA®

Gilded details adorn this beautiful armchair, hand-carved from cedar and Andean tornillo woods. Regal in its design and craftsmanship, its comfortable seat is formed from lavishly embossed polychrome leather. Oscar Pastor shows a keen sense of design and a mastery of his craft with this elegant work of art.

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Cedar and leather accent tables, 'Paradise' (set of 3)

NOVICA®

With a flutter of wings, birds alight to feast on berries in a scene of floral beauty. Exalting nature with his designs, Oscar Pastor creates a set of matching accent tables. He works in finely turned cedar wood, covering the trio with rich tooled leather, painted by hand. The set of three nests together when not in use.

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Mahogany and leather end table, 'Blade'

NOVICA®

Today it is a Peruvian symbol for good luck, but in the Inca culture the tumi, a very sharp, rounded ceremonial knife, was a sacred instrument for sacrifices. Artisan Abel Rios uses the emblem as his central theme in designing this striking leather table hewn from mahogany and cedar. Encircling the tumi are the images of five sun gods whose rays represent distinct cosmological concepts.

The figures are sketched on first and then embossed using a hammer and several types of chisels, depending on the intricacy of the motifs. Rios' skill in crafting exquisite handmade functional items is magnificently displayed through this rounded piece, finished with a deep walnut lacquer. The table makes an attractive statement in any home and can be disassembled effortlessly for storage.

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Wollemi Pine

National Geographic®

Exclusively from National Geographic, this survivor from the age of the dinosaurs is one of the greatest living fossils discovered in the 20th century. The Wollemi pine is one of the world's oldest and rarest tree species, belonging to a 200-million-year-old plant family thought to have been extinct for more than two million years. Previously known only from fossil records, it was presumed extinct until a single tree was found in the Wollemi National Park, Australia, in 1994. Subsequent research discovered 100 adult trees that have survived in a single canyon in this wild and rugged area. Click here.

You can assist in the conservation effort and enjoy the unique opportunity to ensure the continued survival of this rare species by giving the tree as a gift or growing your own. Suitable for indoor container gardening or as a landscape tree in certain areas of the U.S.

Comes with a care manual with the full story about the discovery and fascinating history of the Wollemi pine. Comes in a copper-colored container and will be approximately 10''H when shipped. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of these plants will fund ongoing conservation research. Click here.

National Geographic Magazine

National Geographic®

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As many as five wall map supplements throughout the year in issues of the magazine
A personalized Membership Certificate
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The opportunity to examine special Society products free in your home before deciding to purchase
The privilege of traveling the world with the Society's educational travel tour programs
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