Geiger
Trees and Duck Key
The
Geiger or cordia tree is a wonderful salt- and
wind-resistant tree with a fascinating Florida Keys'
history. A great many Geiger trees can be found on
isalnds of Duck Key. A pair of Geiger trees may also be
found bracketing the entrance walk of the resort's tennis
office and a number of Geiger trees have been planted
along Duck Key Drive.
On
the residential islands a large established Geiger tree
grows on the property of Bruce and Michelle Franck at 214
West Seaview Drive. The Geiger tree population on Duck
Key increased with the recent planting of two trees by
Tom and Graham Davis at their home at 1104 Indies Drive
South. for all to view and enjoy.
Known
also as the geranium tree because it has striking bright
orange flowers that bloom intermittently throughout the
year, the Geiger tree is easily identified because it has
rough heart-shaped leaves that feel like
sandpaper.
The
Keys' history associated with the cordia tree begins back
in the early 1830s when the tree took on the additional
name of Geiger tree. Named after Captain John H. Geiger,
a skilled pilot and wrecker who built a home in 1830 on
Whitehead Street in Key West, the name "Geiger tree" is
apparently of local Keys' origin and likely inspired by a
John James Audubon engraving which immortalized Captain
Geiger's beautiful flowering cordia tree with
white-crowned pigeons sitting in a branch.
Audubon's
journal records his visits to Indian Key, Sandy Key, the
Tortugas, and Key West in 1832 while working on his
famous book, The Birds of America. In his journal
he wrote and documented his use of the Captain's trees,
"I have placed a pair of these Pigeons on a low flowering
tree which is rather scarce on the Keys... The
Rough-leaved Cordia . . . ." According to Audubon only
two cordia trees existed in Key West in 1832. "Both trees
were on private property, and grew in a yard opposite to
that of Dr. Strobel. . ." who assisted Audubon during his
visit. Historians using Key West records have been able
to document that Strobel's neighbor was Captain
Geiger.
Canary
Island Date Palms
A
universal symbol of the tropics is the palm tree. Duck
Key, an island with many popular and exotic palms, is
consequently an island of great tropical beauty. Yearly
the swaying palms beckon resident snowbirds to return and
bask in the warmth and pleasure of this island paradise.
One
of the many palms to complement the beautiful landscaping
and home designs on Duck Key is the Carnary Island date
palm. Date palms are prized for their unique architecture
and the intricate texture and form of their leaves and
stems. A hardy and beautiful plant, this stately species
benefits from the island's abundant sun and well-drained
soil, yet is able to endure Duck Key's dry climate and
ocean winds.
Canary
Island date palms can be seen throughout the grounds of
Hawk's Cay and nineteen impressive date palms can be
viewed standing guard on Plantation Island. Traveling the
roads connecting the island bridges, one can see why
Linnaeus, the 16th century botanist who developed a
system for classifying animals and plants, called this
family of plants "Principes," the prince of the plant
kingdom. From the corner of Schooner Drive and along West
Seaview Drive, the Canary Island date palms on Duck Key
are easily recognizable by their massive trunks and
distinctive leaf-scar pattern. The trunks, wider near the
crown than at the base, appear to have a pineapple shape,
which has led them to be referred to as pineapple palms.
Small ferns can be seen growing between old leaf stems
and fibers of the date palms.
The
flower stalks of the Canary Island date palm are bright
orange and bear three-quarter- inch egg-shaped fruits.
The yellow-red colored fruit grows in clusters and is
edible, but it is not considered a delicacy.
To
look their best, Canary Island date palms require annual
pruning to remove old growth. Pictured on the right is an
attractive and happy date palm thanks to a recent
grooming courtesy of Doris and Jim Bicknell of West
Seaview Drive.
More
Detailed Information
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community, its architecture,Venetian style bridges,
trees, and efforts at beautification
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