Comments on: Calling all Gig Harbor Historians! http://gigharborundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2008/02/25/calling-all-gig-harbor-historians/ A Blog About Our Gig Harbor Area by Matt Thomson, Realtor (c), Of Keller Williams: 253-226-7595 Thu, 21 Aug 2008 01:08:50 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Sue Thomas http://gigharborundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2008/02/25/calling-all-gig-harbor-historians/#comment-483 Sue Thomas Tue, 26 Feb 2008 17:33:00 +0000 http://gigharborundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2008/02/25/calling-all-gig-harbor-historians/#comment-483 Have always wondered about this tree every time we've been in Gig Harbor; found the following online regarding its name: he origin of the popular English name Monkey-puzzle derives from its early cultivation in Britain in about 1850, when the species was still very rare in gardens and not widely known. The proud owner of a young specimen at Pencarrow garden near Bodmin in Cornwall was showing it to a group of friends, and one made the remark "It would puzzle a monkey to climb that"; as the species had no existing popular name, first 'monkey-puzzler', then 'monkey-puzzle' stuck (Mitchell 1996). Have always wondered about this tree every time we’ve been in Gig Harbor; found the following online regarding its name:

he origin of the popular English name Monkey-puzzle derives from its early cultivation in Britain in about 1850, when the species was still very rare in gardens and not widely known. The proud owner of a young specimen at Pencarrow garden near Bodmin in Cornwall was showing it to a group of friends, and one made the remark “It would puzzle a monkey to climb that”; as the species had no existing popular name, first ‘monkey-puzzler’, then ‘monkey-puzzle’ stuck (Mitchell 1996).

]]> By: Matt Thomson http://gigharborundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2008/02/25/calling-all-gig-harbor-historians/#comment-481 Matt Thomson Tue, 26 Feb 2008 16:31:16 +0000 http://gigharborundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2008/02/25/calling-all-gig-harbor-historians/#comment-481 Thanks for the info! I can't believe I can't picture the ones at Pt Defiance. I used to run their 6 days a week when I lived in Tacoma...I'll have to go back and look for them. Thanks for the info! I can’t believe I can’t picture the ones at Pt Defiance. I used to run their 6 days a week when I lived in Tacoma…I’ll have to go back and look for them.

]]> By: Lory French http://gigharborundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2008/02/25/calling-all-gig-harbor-historians/#comment-478 Lory French Tue, 26 Feb 2008 04:50:09 +0000 http://gigharborundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2008/02/25/calling-all-gig-harbor-historians/#comment-478 We love that tree! It is actually a Monkey Tree, or more actually a Monkey Puzzle Tree. Check this site out for more information on the species and its uses in the PNW. <a href="http://www.essences.com/vibration/aug01/monkeypuzzletree.html" rel="nofollow">Essence of Monkey Tree</a> When it got here, I don't know; the only ones I have seen bigger than that one are currently in a front yard in Point Defiance. We love that tree!

It is actually a Monkey Tree, or more actually a Monkey Puzzle Tree. Check this site out for more information on the species and its uses in the PNW. Essence of Monkey Tree

When it got here, I don’t know; the only ones I have seen bigger than that one are currently in a front yard in Point Defiance.

]]> By: Larry Cragun http://gigharborundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2008/02/25/calling-all-gig-harbor-historians/#comment-475 Larry Cragun Tue, 26 Feb 2008 01:50:06 +0000 http://gigharborundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2008/02/25/calling-all-gig-harbor-historians/#comment-475 We called it a Monkey Tree in Idaho where I grew up. We called it a Monkey Tree in Idaho where I grew up.

]]> By: Alison http://gigharborundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2008/02/25/calling-all-gig-harbor-historians/#comment-474 Alison Mon, 25 Feb 2008 22:41:53 +0000 http://gigharborundressed.neighborhoodsundressed.com/2008/02/25/calling-all-gig-harbor-historians/#comment-474 I grew up in England and remember my grandmother had one of these trees in her front yard. We called it a Monkey Tree also - I always thought it was because the limbs look like monkey tails. It was the only one I had ever seen - this is the second! I grew up in England and remember my grandmother had one of these trees in her front yard. We called it a Monkey Tree also - I always thought it was because the limbs look like monkey tails. It was the only one I had ever seen - this is the second!

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