The Orchard of Eden

Last summer we had planted all kinds of fruit trees and to keep them healthy while we were away we put in a drip water feed for them. So on this quick trip down to Florida, I was checking on the drip system to make sure they were all dripping on schedule, pull all weeds that were encroaching on the trees and give them some fertilizer to keep them growing. 

Let start on something positive – the drip is certainly giving them enough water – look at the banana plants

They were only a two foot tall when I bought them at Walmart – in about 6 months they have grown to 8 feet tall – they are only supposed to grow about 12 feet before they fruit – I’m going to have plenty of bananas.

Here’s a view of most of the orchard after I’ve weeded and mowed. Weeding wouldn’t have been so bad if it wasn’t for the heat (high80’s low 90’s), the humidity (above 85 %), the thunderstorms (some everyday for the first 4 days) and those damn little bugs. Jumping in the pool helped with the heat and humidity – I’d go inside when is started to lightening but a light rain was better than the stifling heat and humidity so I'd stay out in the light showers – But nothing got rid of those little “no-see-um” bugs. There was always a ball of them flying around my head. The good thing is they didn’t bite like mosquitoes – they just wanted to fly into your ears, nose or eyes and get a drink or lay eggs. First you start swatting at them but quickly realize you can’t kill them and if you hand is dirty from pulling weeds it really makes a mess when you swat your head. So you just let them be – they sure tickle when they climb into your ear but at least they don’t bite. 

Only a couple of trees have fruit on them. There are some oranges.

And a lot of figs (Tony D. father would be envious).

But wait till next year – everything has grown – take a look at the pineapples – all started in the spring from the tops of pineapples we ate.

And here are the papayas – I’m growing them in pots since that reduces their height and makes it easier to move them inside if we get a bad freeze.

Ah, it’s a regular Orchard of Eden.