Robert-Houdin Blooming Orange Tree. New Port Ritchey: Paul Lembo, ca. 2007. Giant version of the classic automaton orange tree made famous by the ?father of modern magic,? Jean Eugene Robert-Houdin at his famous Paris theatre. The barren tree, resting in a large wooden pot, first blooms white blossoms. Then, in a staggered progression, five real oranges grow on the tree, which can be plucked from it and distributed to the audience. The finale of the effect comes when a final orange appears at the top of the tree, breaks in half, and two mechanized butterflies flutter upward, holding a previously vanished handkerchief to which is tied a previously borrowed ring. Height 67?.