more florida photos

florida fruits

It is so wonderful to get fresh Florida fruits from the backyard (and front yard) trees.

About 30 years ago, my sister planted a seed from a grapefruit and now there is an enormous tree in my parents backyard. The tree is COVERED!! this year with so many fruits hanging low and pulling the branches to the ground. And then my grandmother started a couple avocados from seed and they too are 40 foot tall trees with many fruits now.

My parents neighbors to the right have a lemon tree (with orange lemons) and it is always so heavy with fruit that he says - please come and pick them whenever you want. The neighbors to the left say the same about their two papaya trees. Two yards down, we admire the mango tree. Maybe someday I'll move down here to paradise.

I do think the taste is special when produce is homegrown, picked and eaten within a couple hours. And free gifts of the land.

my mom's seedlings

These are my mom's little tomato and basil seedlings. They are sunning on the front porch down here in Florida.

the gardener is on the beach

This is Naples Florida, way down south on the west coast of Florida. I abandon the New England weather for a few days in the middle of every winter. To visit my parents and get some sun on my face and sand in my toes.

The weather here has been very cold, for this area, for the past few days. There has been damage to the local crops and plants around my parents house. The papaya trees next door looked singed and the orchid flower has some spots.

My Mom has started growing a few tomato and basil seedlings from seed. They are a few inches tall now and I have photos of them to post soon.

Florida souveniers

Nothing like fresh fruits and veggies from a warm climate - in the middle of winter. I picked these up on my last day on vacation in Florida and carried the box on the plane. Tonight, we squeezed a key lime on the tomato with our salad. Yummy!

Tomatoes $2/5. Key limes $2/7. Giant avocado $1.79. Can't beat it for tasty veggies!

the gardener is on vacation...

I'm visiting my parents in southern Florida. Talk about perfect weather!! I'm just going to post a bunch of photos.



This is my Florida breakfast. A grapefruit from the backyard and bread made with frozen zucchini and summer squash from my garden. Yummy.




The grapefruit and oranges are heavy on the trees and the trees are in full bloom - at the same time! But I missed avocado season. The avocado trees are just starting to bloom now. I've never seen an avocado blossom before. Quite small. The bees are all over them.

These are avocado flowers:

southern Florida strawberry farm

My dad just sent me this photo he took this morning. Looks like a great way to maximize space and minimize water use. I'm wondering if this sort of set up would be useful in any of my gardens some day. Another idea to keep in mind ....

Florida souvenirs

This box is filled with my Florida souvenirs. As I suspected, my own garden is still covered with snow. As I plan for next year's garden, I'll enjoy these fruits from Florida. Two avocados, seven grapefruits and a lemon.

backyard grapefruit

My little sister planted a grapefruit seed about 30 years ago. Now it is the most fantastic tree in the backyard of my parents' Florida house. Thirty feet tall and every year filled with juicy Florida sunshine. Too many to even count.

What is it about growing food in your own backyard that is sooo satisfying? It tastes delicious and is just there for the picking.

avocado flowers are unique

Here's a bit of avocado biology: Avocado flowers are the only flowers with separate male and female phases!

Each flower opens first as a female and then the next day as a male. On top of this unusual feature, there are two types of avocado trees with different timing of the flowers: A-type trees open their female flowers in the morning and these flowers reopen as males in the afternoon. B-type trees open their female flowers in the afternoon and then their male flowers the following morning. Since fruiting requires cross-pollination, it helps to have both phases. (UCLA Agriculture avocado information)

My parents have three avocado trees in their backyard in Florida. One never bears any fruit. The other two are large trees that bear delicious harvests. Maybe the trees are different phases?

Christmas guacamole!

Its the middle of winter and there is lots of produce in my parents Florida garden. Three avocados fell from the tree today and made a delicious guacamole. My recipe: avocado, garlic lime and a little salt. Add chips and beer!


Skippy's vegetable recipes