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Barry Blanchard

Shared publicly  -  Yesterday 8:17 A 

I'm in a flowery mood today.

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people exist, that is all.” ― Oscar Wilde

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UCSC Arboretum, Santa Cruz / prints: http://bit.ly/15gFtgH

Haas Avocado Tree

The Hass avocado /ˈhæs/, sometimes marketed as the Haas avocado /ˈhɑːs/, is a cultivar of avocado with dark green-colored, bumpy skin.^[1] It was first grown and sold by Southern California mail carrier and amateur horticulturistRudolph Hass, who also gave it his name.^[1][2][3]

The Hass avocado is a large-sized fruit^[4] weighing 200-300 grams. When ripe the skin becomes a dark purplish-black and yields to gentle pressure.^[5] When ready to serve, it becomes white-green in the middle part of the inner fruit.

Owing to its taste, size, shelf-life, high growing yield and in some areas, year-round harvesting, the Hass cultivar is the most commercially popular avocado worldwide. In the United States it accounts for more than 80% of the avocado crop, 95% of the California crop and is the most widely grown avocado in New Zealand.^[2][5]

 

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Dracaena reflexa, commonly called Pleomele or the Song of India,

Dracaena reflexa, commonly called Pleomele or the Song of India,

Dracaena reflexa is a popular ornamental plant, both in the landscape and the home. It can be enjoyed as a specimen plant, accent, or pruned to create a border. Several cultivars have been selected, particularly variegated clones with cream and yellow-green margins. It performs well as a houseplant, tolerating infrequent waterings. It prefers bright, filtered light, without direct sun exposure, restricted outdoors to zones 10–11. It has average water needs and should be fertilizedbi-weekly when actively growing. Although it can survive in relatively low light levels, the plant may grow spindly if given insufficient light. When grown indoors, temperatures of 18 °C to 25 °C (64 °F to 77 °F) should be maintained. It can be propagated via herbaceous stem cuttings.

Traditional medicine practitioners of Madagascar have long believed Dracaena reflexa to curemalarial symptoms, poisoning, dysentery, diarrhea, dysmenorrhea, and to be useful as anantipyretic and hemostatic agent. The leaves and bark are mixed with parts of a number of other native plants and mixed into tisanes. Its effectiveness in any such treatment remains unproven.^[4]

The fruit of D. reflexa is also important to the diet of the Malagasy Black-and-White Ruffed Lemur(Varecia variegata variegata).^[5] The Frégate beetle (Polposipus herculeanus), an endangered species endemic to Frégate Island (Seychelles), is also known to associate with this plant.^[6]

 

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Rose Blooms Around the House

Strolled around my Moms house and saw ...

Rose bushes are in full bloom here in Southern California. Neighborhoods that have been around for generations are a treasure of aged rosebushes.

The bushes have been cared for for decades, always being trimmed during the summer flower months and properly cut back in winter.

Old school large Red Roses are my favorite with many of the newer colors catching on.

I just trimmed many spent flowers back to the first clump of five leaves.

I am ready for another round of beautiful blooms.

 

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Night Blooming Moon Flower.

Nature makes me think nicely.

Datura inoxia , or night blooming moon flower, has many alkaloid poisons and nerve toxins that the Aztecs and native Americans used in medicine to heal wounds and block pain. Too much of the "medicine" results in delirium, bizarre behavior and amnesia. Still, it's an ornamental flower in many gardens!

Photo: Dragan Todorovic
Gallery: http://bit.ly/13hUhWM
Info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Datura_inoxia

Saw this flower on my G+ stream and wanted to pass it along to my customers

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"Gold Coast" Apricot Trees

"Gold Coast" Apricot Trees grown in Southern California

Apricot trees produce a beautiful piece of fruit.

RicksPicksPlants.com recommends "Gold Coast"  Simi Dwarf Tree (6ft -8ft)

"Gold Kist" Apricot Tree Semi Dwarf 5 gallon Apricot - Gold Kist, Prunus armeniaca 'Gold Kist', is one of the earliest ripening fruits. Blooms very early; generally difficult to grow, especially in late frost areas. Needs well-drained, moderately fertile soil. It is best to thin fruit early in season to maximize size and quality. Gold Kist produces large fruit with firm, orange freestone flesh and superb flavor. Their generally freestone quality makes them easy to prepare for canning, drying, or use in baked goods. For canning, use fruits that are firm; use fully ripe fruits for fresh eating or drying It is considered "the best backyard apricot for warm winter climate. Ricks Picks Plants  714-794-2230

   #apricot #plants #fruit trees