Lignumvitae

I can't pronounce it either.  About 10 miles down the ICW is Lignumvitae Key State Park.  It's accessable only by boat.

 

There's a house on the island that was built in 1919.

The park is a tropical forest like most of the keys were prior to development. Our guide, Ranger Marty told us that the island is home to 12 species of international "champion" trees.  Champion trees are measured in height, canopy, and diameter at chest height.  Here's the ficus champ.

There are 2 tours per day, one at 10 and 2.   Ranger Marty said they had 18 people arrive by tour boat and 17 kayakers for the morning tour.

We arrived a little after 1:00, and by 2:00, there were 11 people assembled for the afternoon tour.  We had read that you should put on insect repellent for the tour through the hammock.  Evidently, the other 9 folks didn't get the memo.  They all expressed a concern about mosquitoes, and didn't stay for the walk through the trees, leaving only Pam and me.  Our personal tour guide, Ranger Marty, got the memo.  He was prepared with his mosquito hoodie.  (It zipped up to cover his face as well.)  Pam and I wore shorts, T-shirts and sandals, and survived without any bites.  A testament to Cutter Advanced Repellent.  (No Deet) 

Marty was very knowledgeable and did a great job showing all the interesting plants on the island.  He showed us the poisonwood tree which if you touch it or it's leaves, you get to experience something like poison ivy on steroids.  The champion poisonwood tree is on this island. 

He also showed us the champion Lignumvitae tree.  It's the scrawny tree overhanging this solution hole.

That tree is about 1200 years old.  They had some chunks of Lignumvitae wood in the house for us to hold.  It is a very heavy and oily wood.  It weighs about 85 pounds per cubic foot.  (about 3 times more than most wood)

All in all, it was a great day.  It was about 80 degrees, the sky was blue and the water was green.  There were a few clouds, but we tried not to let that spoil the day.