Marilyn, this article made me think of you. This is where I got your cots last time
- Thread starter mariadnoca
- Start date
really sad and I empathize
we had the most beautiful little apricots with the most vibrant colors that I would look forward to each year. But each year they came in a migration of birds had us as a destination and would decimate every last fruit. The birds were beautiful too but I only saw them the one day or two they came to eat the fruit. It was a challenge to let the fruit ripen, but time getting the fruit before the birds. Most years the birds won.
When I was a kid in Sonoma County there were orchards of all kinds all over town and random producing trees like plums on most properties or like the huge persimmon tree that I'd pass on my walk to school every day. Walnuts, fruit etc. Late 80s the landscape changed dramatically. Cramped housing tracts and mega vineyards. The vineyards decimate the water table like the ravenous birds do to the apricots, so every year is a "drought" When local people became so good at preserving water, they lost money so raised everyone's rates!!
we had the most beautiful little apricots with the most vibrant colors that I would look forward to each year. But each year they came in a migration of birds had us as a destination and would decimate every last fruit. The birds were beautiful too but I only saw them the one day or two they came to eat the fruit. It was a challenge to let the fruit ripen, but time getting the fruit before the birds. Most years the birds won.
When I was a kid in Sonoma County there were orchards of all kinds all over town and random producing trees like plums on most properties or like the huge persimmon tree that I'd pass on my walk to school every day. Walnuts, fruit etc. Late 80s the landscape changed dramatically. Cramped housing tracts and mega vineyards. The vineyards decimate the water table like the ravenous birds do to the apricots, so every year is a "drought" When local people became so good at preserving water, they lost money so raised everyone's rates!!
mariadnoca
Moderator
Yes we finally took our apricot tree out because of the birds
My parents housing track each had a walnut tree because it had been planted in an orchard. Not one of those trees are left in the neighborhood. The neighbors cherry tree which had the best cherries was taken out when they moved. Even the orange trees you see everywhere are being taken out when somebody new moves in. I'm doing the opposite and trying to bring food back to the home landscape.
At one point we had a peach, I nectarine, Blenhiem apricot, Meyer lemon and a black walnut tree. Only the Meyer lemon remains mostly do the birds. I want to put the fruit trees back into the landscape but this time I want to espalier them so I can reach them before the birds.
My parents housing track each had a walnut tree because it had been planted in an orchard. Not one of those trees are left in the neighborhood. The neighbors cherry tree which had the best cherries was taken out when they moved. Even the orange trees you see everywhere are being taken out when somebody new moves in. I'm doing the opposite and trying to bring food back to the home landscape.
At one point we had a peach, I nectarine, Blenhiem apricot, Meyer lemon and a black walnut tree. Only the Meyer lemon remains mostly do the birds. I want to put the fruit trees back into the landscape but this time I want to espalier them so I can reach them before the birds.
pretty much anything can grow in NorCal except coffee. If only...!!!
I really got to appreciate this living in Maine for a few years. Trying to garden was SO difficult. Not just the short growing season but the pests were surreal and I was trying to do it with only natural methods at a time where there wasn't this magical instant information Internet to help.
Our only failure in NorCal was Avocados and an Italian fig. My great-grandfather brought a fig tree over from Italy turn of the century. My grandfather tended that tree for decades in Queens, NY which when he was a kid was farmland. Amazing to think if you are familiar with the area near Kennedy Airport. Since then various family members have planted trees all over the place from cuttings from that tree. Unfortunately on several attempts it would not take at our place. There was something in the soil that it didn't like but a friend of ours who manages some ranches in Sonoma County got some to take on one of the ranches so the legacy continues here in NorCal.
I really got to appreciate this living in Maine for a few years. Trying to garden was SO difficult. Not just the short growing season but the pests were surreal and I was trying to do it with only natural methods at a time where there wasn't this magical instant information Internet to help.
Our only failure in NorCal was Avocados and an Italian fig. My great-grandfather brought a fig tree over from Italy turn of the century. My grandfather tended that tree for decades in Queens, NY which when he was a kid was farmland. Amazing to think if you are familiar with the area near Kennedy Airport. Since then various family members have planted trees all over the place from cuttings from that tree. Unfortunately on several attempts it would not take at our place. There was something in the soil that it didn't like but a friend of ours who manages some ranches in Sonoma County got some to take on one of the ranches so the legacy continues here in NorCal.
mariadnoca
Moderator
My sister even got bananas to grow in Southern California! Haven't tried that but pretty much
Everything else grows here. Except I would love to grow Peonies and it doesn't get cold enough. My sister-in-law has avocado trees in her yard — so they grow here too. They are messy though.
Everything else grows here. Except I would love to grow Peonies and it doesn't get cold enough. My sister-in-law has avocado trees in her yard — so they grow here too. They are messy though.
Remember also that you can get a "semi-dwarf" tree and keep the the top whacked . . .
low enough that you can easily pick all of your fruit. You trim the top height every spring, which will help to encourage lower growth. Then keep an eye on on it during the growing year; cut any upright shoots back to keep juices flowing to the lower growth. There's no law that says you have to let a tree grow to it's full height.
low enough that you can easily pick all of your fruit. You trim the top height every spring, which will help to encourage lower growth. Then keep an eye on on it during the growing year; cut any upright shoots back to keep juices flowing to the lower growth. There's no law that says you have to let a tree grow to it's full height.