Seeds of Life

In the corner of Butterfly Pavilion stands a densely-leaved tree with thorns, it doesn’t bloom, and often doesn’t gain much attention from our visitors. This unassuming tree is a Valencia orange tree donated to us eight years ago, by a former volunteer. If trees could talk, this one would share quite a tale… read on.

About thirty years ago, a juicy, sweet Valencia orange was purchased at a grocery store in Ohio. While eating it, the consumer wondered if the sweet seeds would grow into a tree if planted. So he decided to try it, planted the seeds in a pot, watered, watched and waited. Sure enough a seed sprouted and continued to grow on the man’s porch in a pot, surviving snowy winters surrounded with a plastic sheet and a heat lamp. After fifteen years in Ohio, the tropical tree moved with its propagators to Charlotte, NC.

After a few years in sunny Charlotte the couple needed to return to Ohio but wanted to know if they could donate the tree to the Museum. Knowing that it was a host plant for the giant swallowtail butterflies that often flutter about our Pavilion, Naturalist, Karen, had high hopes that maybe the butterflies would lay eggs on it, and we would get larva.

Years passed with no sign of eggs or caterpillars, until the last couple of weeks! Come and see this tree with the amazing story and enjoy a great winter reprieve.

Have you ever planted a seed from food you have consumed? We’d love to hear YOUR story.

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