The Key West citizen., 1940-04-17
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KEY WEST WOMEN
Their Homes and Gardens
BY MYRTLE cOScROvE
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MRS. STEPHEN DOUGLASS
GARDEN

M1O. = 6FE1EN DOOGLA00
GARDEN
Mrs. Stephen Douglass has
one of those comfortable, old
fashioned gardens where wide
spreading trees cast long, cool
shadows; where birds sing all the
day through and vivid tropical
flowers shed their fragrance on
the still summer air. DR.. Doug
glass, who spends most of his
waking hours in this delightful
spot, claims that he and Mrs.
Douglass had no set plans in
laying out the garden; that they
aided and abetted rather than
dictated to Nature; there there
has been no attempt whatever to
'gild the lily and paint the
rose. The result has been a
charming sense OF informality
and ease. The splendid mass
formation of trees in the back
ground provide balance and long,
clear vistas which add depth and
breadth to the grounds. This
is one of the largest gardens on
the island, occupying approx
mately two acres. 1t has been
in Mrs. Douglass family for
more than 70 years. A num-
Der of the trees have quaint
and interesting histories. Out
standing is the Spanish cork
| CInespe1Ia populneal whose low
spl leaalng branches cover a
space OF o0x9U feet. A native Oh
asia, II was brought mere from
spain nearly century ago. The
tllcK corrugated bark is eXten-
lively usea In the manufacture
of lInoleum and life preServers
IL Is widely known throughout
the city as the wishing tree"
One has only to sit on a certain
Dough, it is said, and concentrate
on a wish to have it come to
pass. Among the most valuable
of the trees are the gumba linn
bas, whose glossy brown bark is
used for sima ruba, the bitter
digestive tonic of the U.S.P. The
medicinal qualities of this tree
is well known to Key Westers
who have used it for generations
Seven years ago, DR.. and Mrs.
Douglass planted IA small royal
poinciana trees along two sides
of their garden These were
seedlings of the mother tree said
to be one of the oldest in the
city. Not only did each and
every one live but they put forth
bud and blossom the fifth year
after being planted. Within the
next few weeks these trees will
spread a-dazzling parasol of scar
let flowers unsurpassed for bril-
liancy and beauty. Reminiscent
of the perfumes of Araby are the
two small plumeria trees, better
known as frangi panni or West
Indian jasmine. Clothed in stiff
slender, heavy-veined leaves,
they produce hundreds of frag-
rant, star-shaped flowers. Ma
t'ves of Jamaica, these trees were
first introduced into France dur
ing the reign OF Louis XVI by
General Frangipanni, for whom
they were named. Clustered
about the Douglass home are a
dozen or more huge sappadilla
trees. Despite the fact that these
are fast nearing the century
mark, they are in excellent con-
dition and heavily laden with
fruit. Chewing gum addicts
will be interested to learn that
the sappadilla, or sapote as it is
known in Central America, pro-
duces the chicle from which
chewing gum is made. Mos:
unusual is the yellow gall tree
(Thevetia nereifolia1 who's
seed, contained in round cases
are called lucky beans. In Homo
lulu they are worn as pendants
or charms. 1t is said that during
his travels in Africa, David Liv-
ingSton, celebrated missionary
! IL .-...1-