From Bonsai to Banyan April 29, 2012
Posted by nrhatch in Art & Photography, Home & Garden, Nature.trackback
The Selby Gardens has trees ranging from tabletop Bonsai . . .
Barely tall enough to provide shade to Swift’s diminutive Lilliputians . . .
Leaving Gulliver (of gigantic proportions & portions) to fend for himself . . .
Perhaps Gulliver used a towering Banyan as his sun-shade and parasol?
He might well have.
Rumor has it that Alexander the Great housed his army of 7,000 men under a single Banyan tree.
Wow! That’s hard to believe.
But begins to be plausible when we consider that the Great Banyan, a 250-year-old Banyan Tree in Kolkata, India, currently covers 4 acres.
Who knows what the Selby Banyan will accomplish in its lifetime . . . it’s only been growing since the 1930’s.
Related posts: Aah . . . That’s Better! * Orchids, Bromeliads, and Epiphytes
Comments
Sorry comments are closed for this entry
Spirit Lights The Way 
Hi Nancy, I never understood the appeal of Bonsai Trees, until I discovered my first Jacaranda sapling, with no where to plant it… *Smile* I have three now (having given two away) and they are intriguing and a pleasure to watch grow. I have never seen a Banyan Tree ~ how amazing they are. Thanks for sharing, I’ve learnt something new today, Thanks 😉
Wow! That’s cool, Mands ~ growing Bonsai Trees is a unique hobby ~ and you’re spreading the JOY.
We’ve seen amazing Banyans here ~ on Thomas Edison’s estate in Fort Myers, at Ringling Museum, at the Selby Gardens, and elsewhere. I expect it was a “must have” in the gardens of the “rich and famous” in the 30’s when Florida was being deveoped.
Wow, I have such an afinity for trees and their bare branches. These are simply stunning. How very precious, old growth.
Banyans send out new shoots to expand their territory ~ allowing them to keep growing and growing and growing . . .
Amazing! I adore the way the roots are above ground and exposed. I like the way the wood is so grandly displayed. Is the wood grained?
I wish I could grow these.
Hmm . . . good question. I don’t know about the grain. I’ve never seen a cross section of a Banyon Tree.
Before planting, make sure you have a B~I~G yard!
Those banyan trees are awesome! I love tabletop bonsai, I want to stick them in my pocket 🙂
Maybe you can pick up a Bonsai in the Garden Shop at the Selby . . . a tabletop bonsai for the lanai. 😉
Yep! I think that’s a must.
The closest I’ve ever come to growing a Bonsai is a gorgeous Jade plant. Not quite the same, but beautiful in its small stature.
Those are too cool. I love the garden and the trees. Some of the cypress trees here really spread out, but they’re just not as accessible.
It’s a marvelous collection of specimens, tall and small. Cypress trees are cool too . . . trees rock!
Those banyan trees are something. They always take my breath a little.
Thomas Edison is the first to plant one in the US ~ in Fort Myers, FL. Once the lightbulb went off, other socialites (with LARGE YARDS) followed his lead.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Banyan, Nancy. Extraordinary! I need to do a little homework and see if they even exist on the west coast, at one of the botanical gardens, perhaps. They may not! I always admire bonsai and do see it as a peaceful art. Selby Gardens is a good place to soak up some sunshine and beauty. Very nice! Debra
I’m not certain about the range today . . . but they aren’t native to the US. Thomas Edison planted the first in Fort Myers.
I love Bonsai trees and would have small ones in my apt in New York. They are pricey though but worth the investment as they are so pretty. The photos were beautiful, makes me want to go out and get Bonsai Trees for our house. 🙂
They are perfect for apartment living! And easily paired with Pet Rocks that don’t need to be walked or fed. 😉
Where do you live now, Marie? Are you still in the states?
Love this post! (I do have an affinity for Banyan trees :))
Nice shots!
anne
Thanks, Anne. Trees are our friends . . . we should be a friend to the trees.
One extreme to another size-wise 🙂 Bonsai are so beautiful and delicate. I’ve seen the magnificent banyan trees on Lord Howe island – only thing is the golden orb weaver spiders love making their webs in those dangling roots…oooer
I love that name . . .the Golden Orb Weaver spider. Nonetheless, I wouldn’t enjoy getting tangled up in their webs affixed to dangling roots. 😯
Take it from ATreeGrowsinBklyn, bonsi and banyans are the best. Thanks so much for sharing both. 🙂
Thanks, atreegrowsinbklyn! Nothing like hearing it from the source . . . trees rock!
Beautiful captures Nancy! 🙂 The light in the Bonsai tree photos is wonderful. The Banyan tree is amazingly huge… wow! I’ve seen Banyan trees before. But, now I wonder if what I was looking at was just one tree that spread out, or multiple Banyan trees planted closely together? Marie Selby Botanical Gardens is gorgeous! Thank you for sharing it with us.
Thanks, Theresa. The mid-day light frustrated my efforts in several areas of the gardens ~ I expect that early morning and late afternoon would be better for “serious” photographers. But I liked the bright spotlight effect on the Bonsai.
It’s difficult to discern with Banyons, eh? As I understand it, this is a single Banyan tree . . . expanding it’s girth in an ever increasing circumference.
I’ve been looking for a good shade tree.
We’ve had some beautiful shade trees over the years ~ massive oaks and spreading elms. Here, we have palm trees. 😀
4 ACRES?
INCREDIBLE!
That’s like… you know… big.
🙂
It is . . . B~I~G! But, unlike Superman, it cannot leap tall buildings in a single bound. 😆
Those trees are amazing. Looks a really calming place!
Thanks, Vix. They’ve added Wi~Fi throughout the grounds so “writers” can settle onto a bench, laptop in tow, and write . . . in peace.
both trees are fascinating…
Appreciating the diversity of nature helps us to appreciate the diversity of people.
The banyan trees are amazing. 🙂
They need room to roam . . . but are wonderful in large gardens like the Ringling, Selby, and Edison’s winter estate.