We planted our jacaranda as a 15-gallon tree nine years ago. Last year was the first year we started to see some real hints of the famous purple flowers. This year it is finally coming into its own.
We play a game of "chicken" with our precious apricots. If we let them stay on the tree to ripen, we'll lose them to the squirrels and birds, so we let them stay on as long as we dare, pick them earlier than we'd prefer, and let them ripen in the window under Buddha's placid gaze. They are quite sweet and flavorful when they can ripen.
We planted our Katy apricot tree in 2002. It has never produced more than two or three apricots a year, which we unwillingly share with the birds and the squirrels. This year, after 17 years, we had an unexpectedly abundant crop! No idea if it was simply age, or last year's (lack of) pruning, or the late spring rains this year. But we're thrilled!
