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Comment by Joan Denoo on December 15, 2012 at 2:09pm

Annie, how did you come about leading a "student group on a rain forest adventure in Central America"? That sounds like a real challenge! And an interesting experience as well. Do tell us about it. 

Do you live in a part of Florida that is at risk for flooding? What kinds of preparations do people make with such a dramatic change? 

Gardening is the love of my life. I learned at the elbows of both grandmothers and what sweet memories they are. Now my great-grandchildren garden at my elbow. 

Comment by Joan Denoo on December 15, 2012 at 2:03pm

Amer, I, and I suspect many of us on this site, feel fortunate, indeed, to have you for a friend. If/when, they want us to take our "social" conversation to another site they will let us know. (You will, won't you, Sentient?)

I remember electricity coming to our very small farming community in eastern Washington state, and the telephone! Times have certainly changed.

Probably something that doesn't change is the pleasure of putting a seed or cutting into the ground and watching it flourish, sometimes to bear fruit.

Comment by amer chohan on December 15, 2012 at 12:41pm

I was taking absence of regulars as boredom, talking of social life at a gardening forum made me more concious. I never expected such intrest. Thanks to you all.

One period of my life which amuses my children, students and even me when I think of it today was my village society in my childhood. Actually I was in grade 7 when electricity came to our area. Before this it was centuries old life which seems to be a fairy tale even to me today. Let it postpone for some latter time.

Sentinent! Our chief crops are wheat, rice, cotton, mangoes, oranges and lemon. I included later three in chief crops as they are planted commercially on million of hectors. Here people take them as crops instead of fruits. Hilly areas are good for graps, apples and dry fruits of all kind.

Our climate is very fruit tree friendly. I wasn't concious of it before your question, I can count up to 25 different kinds of fruit trees planted successfuly in houses of my surroundings. Yes three or four figs too. But it is more successful in hills. 

Comment by Idaho Spud on December 15, 2012 at 10:29am

Amer, I think your description of your environment is interesting.

Comment by Annie Thomas on December 15, 2012 at 10:26am

Thanks, Sentient!  My greatest success with citrus was simply inheriting two honey murcott mandarin trees from the previous owners of my house.  I planted a blood orange tree two years ago.  Although it is still very much alive, it is not yet thriving.  My greatest desire is to grow avocados.  I had a frost-resistant tree that unfortunately was taken out when a neighbor's tree feel on it during a storm.  I plan to get another one from the University of Florida, as they are working on breeding frost-resistant strains.  It's a frustrating time to be a fruit gardener in my area, as temperature shifts have left us teetering in between two different planting zones.  Old timers in the area talk about growing more tropical varieties, but in recent years, we've experienced longer and harder freezes than ever before. I am a novice gardener, but I enjoy it so much!

Comment by Sentient Biped on December 15, 2012 at 10:05am

Amer, please do talk!  I am certainly not bored, it's very interesting.

One thing I would like to hear about is what else grows.  I read there are other good fruits that are not necessarily tropical, like jujubes and figs, there.  I can grow both here too.  Also mulberries. There is a Pakistan mulberry available here I've been thinking about growing.  

Annie, always feel free to describe your experiences!  I envy the ability to grow a lot of tropicals, expecially fruits like citrus and bananas.  I can experience 2nd hand if you are growing them

Comment by Annie Thomas on December 15, 2012 at 10:03am

Loved the Ogden Nash poem, Joan!  Fun and true! Years ago, I led a student group on a rain forest adventure in Central America.  I explained to them that they should prepare for the trip by thinking of the rain forest as one giant organism whose job is to decompose everything within it... including humans.  When you look at it this way, one prepares better by bringing antifungal ointments, protective clothing, etc. 

Comment by Annie Thomas on December 15, 2012 at 9:59am

I am checking emails after being offline for a couple of days. Although I have not been part of this conversation, it's been  fun Saturday morning reading. Amer, I find your descriptions of where you live fascinating and educational.  I live in the US, in Florida, but enjoy hearing about what life is like for others around the world.  Thank you for sharing!

Comment by Joan Denoo on December 15, 2012 at 9:48am

Bugs

Some insects feed on rosebuds,

And others feed on carrion.

Between them they devour the earth.

Bugs are totalitarian.

 

~ Ogden Nash

Comment by Joan Denoo on December 15, 2012 at 9:03am

Amer, your comments interest me greatly and I suspect others enjoy them as well. Thank you for describing your customs and traditions; the article on mountains of Pakistan offers a perspective of the challenges living and gardening in a country of such sharp contrasts. 

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