No tree is more indicative of the tropics than the coconut palm. Flourishing in warm climates as far away as Polynesia and as close to home as Southern California, coconut palms have been around since the dinosaurs roamed the earth. I don’t know what T-rex did with them back then, but today they are used for everything from food to decoration. In fact, virtually every part of the coconut palm can be made use of. The roots, trunk and fronds are used for many things, including shelter and furniture, but it’s the sacred fruit and its hard shell that have been most-prized by humans and beasts alike.
Perhaps the prettiest use of the coconut shell that I’ve seen are these whimsical, cute-as-a-button earrings and necklace by Emm’s Gems (above). Lightweight, colourful and eco-friendly, Emily’s coconut button and bead pieces bring a touch of the tropics to your jewelry collection – no matter how far you are from the tall, swaying palms themselves.