Why did Thomas Edison plant a banyan tree sapling at his winter residence in 1926? You guessed it, there was an experiment involved. Native to India, it is now a massive, beloved tree at the Edison Ford Winter Estates in Ft Myers, Florida. While this isn’t an “escape from the lab” story, it is sort of a “took over the lab” story! Debbie Hughes, the Horticultural Director, explains what happened. Also, we dig into the mythology of fig trees - specifically “strangler” figs - and their critical ecological and cultural importance with rainforest ecologist and author Mike Shanahan.GuestsDebbie HughesHorticultural Director, Edison Ford Winter Estateshttps://www.edisonfordwinterestates.org/Mike ShanahanAuthor,  Gods, Wasps, and Stranglers: The Secret History and Redemptive Future of Fig Treeshttps://underthebanyan.blog/about/Tree Story ShortSashil SachdevaVadodara, IndiaPodcast ConsultantMartha Douglas-OsmundsonMusicDiccon Lee, www.deeleetree.comArtworkDahn Hiuni, www.dahnhiuni.com/homeFollow onFacebook @thisoldtreepodInstagram @thisoldtreepodWebsitethisoldtree.buzzsprout.comWe want to hear about the favorite tree in your life! To submit a 1-3 minute “Tree Story Short” for consideration to be aired on This Old Tree, record the story on your phone’s voice memo app and email to:doug@thisoldtree.netThis episode was written in part at the What Cheer Writers Club, Providence, RIhttps://whatcheerclub.spaces.nexudus.com/about