Historic Tree Grove: George Washington Carver Persimmon

Persimmon:
The persimmon (Diospyros spp.) has many species and is cultivated around the world. The persimmon fruit is anywhere from pale yellow-orange to a deep red in color and fruits may be tomato, acorn, or even pumpkin-like in shape. Persimmon fruits are actually a true berry and depending upon the species can be eaten when freshly ripe or may need additional drying time before they are ready to consume. Pies, cookies, puddings and other desserts made from persimmon fruit have a sweet and unique taste.



George Washington Carver:
George Washington Carver pioneered a concept of crop rotation to return needed nutrient to the soil depleted by decades of cotton and tobacco. In the agrarian South following the Civil War, this method of crop rotation drastically increased farm production. Carver also developed industrial applications for the new crops being grown, including over 300 uses for the peanut and extracting pigment from soybeans to replace European textile dyes. Carver was one of the leading African American scientists of his day and served as Agriculture Director at the Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute for Negroes which was founded by Booker T Washington.

George Washington Carver Persimmon:
 The George Washington Carver Persimmon at MOSI is a seedling from a persimmon tree originally grown by George Washington Carver. It comes from the grounds of Tuskegee University.

Florida Agricultural Garden:
Carver's theory of crop rotation helped make large-scale farming possible in Florida, where the notoriously difficult soils benefited from this method. To honor Dr. Carver, this garden contains some of central Florida's most popular agricultural crops, many of which are grown in the farmlands surrounding Tampa. These gardens lie fallow in the hot summer months, when agriculture in Florida is difficult if not impossible. Current crops include:

• Tomatoes
• Strawberries
• Peppers
• Blueberries

In a nod to Dr. Carver's amazing accomplishments with peanuts, this garden also contains a row of ornamental perennial peanut (Arachis glabrata), which does not produce edible peanuts but makes a wonderful tough groundcover.

George Washington Carver Persimmon Art and Artists

Artwork for the information sign was created by local artist Holly Bird.

Bench artwork for the George Washington Carver Persimmon was created by Dee Miller.

Artist statement: I have always been fascinated with the world and through my travels I gather images from which I work. Part of my process is the transformation and the integrating of different layers and elements on the same canvas. My art explores the relationship between man and his environment. Taking what has been discarded and reusing to create works of art which focus on the beauty of nature. Inspired by the intricate markings of insects, plants and animals, I focus on each detail, their colors and textures. Re purposing Smithsonian magazines, I create a quilted background. Each strip and square is woven together and sometimes painted over or patterned. Over all of this on the white, an image of nature emerges, my interpretation of the Persimmon Tree. I have included the strawberry, blueberry, peanut, tomato and sugar cane plants which are part of the important agricultural industry in Florida. These were made possible by the rotation of crops which George Washington Carver is known for. The rotation process is illustrated through the white circles which grace the work.This tree was important to me because I was born in Plant City and grew up surrounded by the strawberry plants and its importance to this area. See more of Dee Miller's work on her website.