Sabot Saloon XXVI

[Sally Brown]

Originally Posted by Bluehawk

Thanks Sally... not many people know about Purple Heart wood.

I learned about it the "hard" way, literally... by attempting to prune an overhanging branch off my garage one day.

Nice wood, eh?

Oh yes. My first gavel and sounding block were of tigerwood which is very warm browns polished but my second set was made for me with love of that beautiful dark burgundy/purple Purple Heart wood. Absolutely beautiful. The colored woods are absolutely beautiful and hard to find! It was with a tremendous amount of love the block of wood was found that made my second set. It is very hard wood to work with because it is so very hard and not handled correctly will crack. You have a tree out back? AWESOME!



In time it will only deepen in color and become less burgundy and more purple. A truly beautiful wood that requires ONLY wax to finish! AWESOME choice, Sir Blue.

[Woodmonkey]

Good morning, everybody

I haven't thought of purple heart wood in years. A friend of mine had a tree and the wood was beautiful.

[Bluehawk]

It really IS something special... I've only seen one tree of it in my entire life.

It was about 25" tall I would guess... but that wood is THE hardest I have ever come across, of ANY kind.

The scent after cutting is amazing... and the color, indescribable.

This is a true legacy tree, for planting and patience, in a protected safe location.

It makes me really happy to know that there are others who are aware of it.

And, what a poignant name it has too.

[Bluehawk]

Originally Posted by Snowden

I'm one of those who never heard of it before, Sally and Sir Blue. Is it known by another other name? Which tree does it come from, I guess is what I'm really asking here. It sounds beautiful; I love different types of wood.

Here's a link to the tree, Snow... not to be confused with the Purple Tree PLANT (Setcreasea pallida)

Link:
Exotic Woods: Purple Heart - Domestic Hardwoods Imported Wood Turning Stock

[Snowden]

Thanks, Sir Blue -- going there right now..

Oh, the amaranth! How did you get one to grow where you are? That's truly fantastic! I would love to see it. I've heard about it, never saw any of the wood from it though.

[Bluehawk]

Originally Posted by Snowden

Thanks, Sir Blue -- going there right now..

Oh, the amaranth! How did you get one to grow where you are? That's truly fantastic! I would love to see it. I've heard about it, never saw any of the wood from it though.

There isn't one here, sad to say.

It was overhanging my garage at a beautiful home I had in Midland, Michigan - while Director of their Art Council years ago.

The tree and the house, are still there... on James Drive.

I transplanted roughly 300 lilies of the valley there too... in a nice shady place, beneath a tall spruce, just outside our living room cathedral windows.

[Snowden]

Originally Posted by Bluehawk

There isn't one here, sad to say.

It was overhanging my garage at a beautiful home I had in Midland, Michigan - while Director of their Art Council years ago.

The tree and the house, are still there... on James Drive.

I transplanted roughly 300 lilies of the valley there too... in a nice shady place, beneath a tall spruce, just outside our living room cathedral windows.

I love lilies of the valley, Sir Blue. We had so many of them at home -- that would be here in Maryland, but on the Western Shore. Violets, both the purple and the Confederate violets, and the dear little yellow woods violets. But the perfume of the lilies of the valley was exquisite and quite unforgettable. Beautiful little bells with such a lovely scent.

I miss them; I know you do too.