January 31 – February 22, 2011 Fort Myers and Southwest Florida

A statue of Thomas Edison in front of the first Banyan tree that he planted in the United States (It is now the 3rd largest in the world!!)

If anything is close to the banyan tree, it will be covered/ strangled in time. Yikes!!

What tree takes up almost an acre of ground and has more trunks than a herd of elephants? — It’s the banyan tree that Thomas Edison planted in Fort Myers, FL (1925) at his estate on McGregor Blvd. This tree (a gift from Harvey Firestone) is the first banyan tree planted in the US. At the time of planting it was 4 ft. tall; now it covers almost an acre and is the third largest in the world. – Also, Thomas Edison shares responsibility for Fort Myers’ nickname “City of Palms”. He planted about a dozen or so Royal Palm trees in front of his winter home on McGregor Boulevard that are now 75 feet tall. Following suit, the city of Fort Myers planted more and more and more and more palm trees, earning this nickname.

Fig Tree in Edison's Backyard on the Caloosahatchee River

Up A Tree!

Over the past few weeks we rented a car and made our way to Naples, Marco Island, Fort Myers Beach, and the Everglades. We have found so many places that we are enjoying, and especially the wild life. The birds are spectacular here in Florida and we find ourselves taking lots of pictures. We’ve seen two more parades right in front of our docked boat; what could be more convenient. It seems like there is always something going on here. The past weekend was the Edison Lights parade and an antique car show with over a hundred cars along with an arts and craft fair.

Thomas Edison's winter estate in Fort Myers, FL (on McGregor Boulevard and the Caloosahatchee River)

Bananas growing in Thomas Edison's backyard.

Flowers

Oranges

Even the Ibis come to visit Edison's estate

EDISON WAS SO AHEAD OF HIS TIME: The electric car appealed to Edison because it was cheap to operate, easy to control and safer than cars with gasoline engines. Between 1900-1910 Edison and his staff developed a better storage batter for use in electric cars. By 1910 most cars were gasoline powered yet the use of the alkaline storage batteries in electric delivery wagons and tractors was a great success because they were used for short runs around the city and factory yards. -- The military became interested in Edison's battery which found its way to the U.S. Navy because of the storage battery's steady, long-lived charge giving submarines a longer underwater range.

What If The U.S. Had Listened to Edison? I Wonder How Our World Would Be Today.

Everyone Loves a Parade!!

Practicing for Clown College

Oh, oh! Who's driving this rig? A long parade day for this little fellow.

Odes to Edison

Edison Light Parade

Painted Bunting. Corkscrew Swamp, Naples, FL

Corkscrew Swamp

Little Blue Heron

Yummy Lunch

Everglades City (including the Everglades)

Anhinga (Viewed in the Everglades)

Osprey in Nest (Everglades). -- Ospreys mate for life and come back to the same nest and add more materials to the nest to raise their new family. Over time, the nest can weigh as much as half a ton.

Historic Ole Indian Trading Post, established in 1906. Note the slant of the counter, designed to accommodate the ladies "hoop" skirts. This store traded with Indians and settlers alike, including furs, fabrics, soaps, anything that you may need. The building included a post office.

Replica of Indian dugout canoe; stored under Smallwood Trading Post just outside of the Everglades.

Rod and Gun Club, Everglades City

Alligator City………………………………………………..

Surprise, surprise. These pictures were taken just outside of the Everglades and are actually located across the street from homes!! Yikes!! THERE GOES THE NEIGHBORHOOD!! And my oh my, what BIG teeth they have!! :-O