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Jacksonville Businessman Celebrates 50 Years At Home & Patio Show

The Jacksonville Home and Patio Show is underway this weekend at the Prime Osborn Convention Center downtown.

It’s the 50th year for the event. It’s also the 50th year that local tree surgeon Gene Bushor has been a vendor.

“I love trees. If I could still climb a tree I would do so.”

That’s because Bushor is 84-years-old.  And his history is entwined with some of Jacksonville’s oldest, most historically significant live oaks.

“The Cummer Oak, which is a famous tree in Jacksonville now? I was in that tree when I was 18-years-old.  And we still work on that tree today, along with the Treaty Oak. There used to be a skating rink and a junk yard around that tree.”

The Treaty Oak on the city’s Southbank is believed to be about 250-years-old.  The Cummer Oak, at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens, is thought to be more than 175-years-old.

The Jacksonville Home and Patio Show runs through Sunday. Last year more than 34,000 people attended and there are hundreds of vendors on hand again at this year’s show.

Among the most popular features is the series of workshops:

SATURDAY, MARCH 3

11AM   Learn a Marble effect using Chalk Paint.

1PM     Learn how to cover walls and furniture with fabric.

3PM     Pallet Signs.

5PM     Taking new wood and making it look old and reclaimed.

SUNDAY, MARCH 4

11AM   Pallet Signs.

1PM     Taking new wood and making it look old and reclaimed.

3PM     Learn a Marble effect using Chalk Paint.

5PM     Learn how to cover walls and furniture with fabric.

Brett Tutor, the new carpenter for TLC’s Trading Spaces, is also appearing on the Inspiration Stage throughout the weekend.

Tickets prices are $11 for adults and $5 for children and seniors, or $9 for adults if purchased in advance online.

More information, including a list of exhibitors is available on the Home & Patio Show website.

Contact reporter Cyd Hoskinson at choskinson@wjct.org, 904-358-6351 and on Twitter @cydwjctnews.

Cyd Hoskinson began working at WJCT on Valentine’s Day 2011.