FORT MYERS, Fla. (July 5, 2018) — The large Mysore Fig that once stood next to the fence along McGregor Boulevard on the Edison estate was one of the trees the site lost during Hurricane Irma. Edison & Ford Winter Estates is offering the public an opportunity to purchase wood from the tree and a chance to own a piece of history.
The Mysore Fig stood about 80 feet tall and the root mass was approximately 30 feet in diameter. The tree has been cut into 15 slabs of wood that can be used for table tops or artwork. The slabs were cut from the buttress roots, the distinctive, flared trunk part of the tree.
Two different sizes are available for purchase. Large slabs (5′ X 6′) are priced at $600 and small (4’ x 4’) are $300. A certificate of authenticity will be provided with each slab. Proceeds from the sale of the wood will go toward garden restoration, giving the public an opportunity to help restore the historic botanic gardens. The slabs will be sold by appointment through Sherri Muske at 239-335-3677.
For anyone looking to own a smaller token of history, free wood scraps from other trees will be available to the public on July 23, at 10 a.m. on a first-come, first-served basis. Wood scraps will be available for pick up at 2133 Larchmont Avenue, Fort Myers, Fla. 33901.
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Edison & Ford Winter Estates
Edison & Ford Winter Estates is the internationally known winter home site of Thomas Edison and Henry Ford. More than 250,000 visitors walk through the location each year from all around the globe. The organization has received many awards, including the National Stewardship Award from the National Trust for Historic Preservation and the National Garden Clubs’ Historic Preservation Award. The property is an official project of “Save America’s Treasures,” a Florida Historic Landmark and a National Register Historic Site. The Edison Botanic Laboratory is a National Historic Chemical Landmark. The site is open every day except Thanksgiving and Christmas from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and until 9 p.m. during the month of December for Holiday Nights.