❤️ In Loving Memory of Mr. B: Grateful for the Love You Left Behind!

"How lucky I am to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard." - A.A. Milne, Winnie the Pooh

Sound on 🔈 More: #SingingCats

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🍌 Is Blue Java Banana really blue? Great question!

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  🔵 The Blue Java Banana, also known as the Ice Cream Banana, really does have a blueish tint when the fruit is unripe.
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  🔵 It's not bright neon blue, but more of a silvery blue-green or frosty blue tone.
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  🔵 This cool color is especially noticeable under sunlight and is one of the reasons the variety is so eye-catching.
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  🔵 Once ripe, the fruit turns pale yellow and has a creamy texture with a vanilla-like flavor, hence the nickname "ice cream banana."

🍌 Ice Cream (Blue Java) is a cold-tolerant hybrid of Musa balbisiana and Musa acuminata, vigorous banana growing 10-15 feet tall and producing 40-60 lb bunches of stout, bluish-skinned fruit with sweet, vanilla-flavored, cream-like flesh that can be eaten raw or cooked.

🆒 Banana #Fun_Facts

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  🟡Bananas are rich in potassium, which helps regulate blood pressure and supports heart health.
• 🟡They provide a quick source of energy and are great for post-workout recovery.
• 🟡The fiber in bananas aids digestion and promotes gut health.
• 🟡Eat them fresh, add to smoothies, bake into breads and desserts, or use in various savory dishes.
• 🟡Rubbing the inside of a banana peel on mosquito bites can reduce itching and swelling.

🛒 Blue bananas exist - and you can grow them!

📚 Learn more:
About #Bananas
What are the best varieties of edible Banana and which one should I plant?

#Food_Forest #Bananas

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🍪 How to deal with chocolate cravings? Chocolate with zero calories

🍪 Do you have to deal with chocolate temptation all the time? Portlandia, the glorious flower of Cuba, smells like creamy chocolate and blooms in stunning bells. Rare, fragrant, and tough - even thrives in alkaline soil!

📚 Learn more:
What flower smells like warm chocolate?

🛒 No calories, just fragrance - bring home Portlandia!

#Perfume_Plants #Hedges_with_benefits #Trees

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🪰 A person who won’t read

"A person who won’t read has no advantage over one who can’t read." - Mark Twain

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😊 Why we love Jocote: the Hog Plum health benefits.
Sound on! 🎤

🍊 The Hog Plum tree (Spondias purpurea), that you saw blooming in March in this post, set the fruit by May in ABUNDANCE and we can't wait to see them ripe and harvest them! Hog Plum is one of our favorite fruits at Top Tropicals. It is also known as Purple Mombin, Jocote, or Spanish Plum. It’s popular in Central America and the Caribbean, and it's not just tasty and super productive - it's packed with health benefits!

❤️ HEALTH BENEFITS OF THE HOG PLUM FRUIT:

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  ✅ Rich in Vitamin C. Helps boost your immune system, supports skin health, and acts as a powerful antioxidant.
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  ✅ Good Source of Fiber. Aids digestion, helps prevent constipation, and supports gut health.
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  ✅ Anti-inflammatory Properties. Traditionally used to relieve swelling, inflammation, and minor skin infections.
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  ✅ Supports Heart Health. Contains antioxidants and nutrients that may help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels.
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  ✅ Hydrating and Refreshing. The fruit has high water content and is often eaten fresh during hot weather for hydration.
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  ✅ May Help Regulate Blood Sugar. Some studies suggest that Spondias species may have a mild effect on blood sugar levels.

🛒 Sweet, tangy, and good for you - grow Hog Plum!

📚 Learn more:
This is how the flowers of a Hog Plum look like
The Hog Plum tree fruit
What fruit tree is full of fruit year around

#Food_Forest #Discover

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✨ How to trust

"The best way to find out if you can trust somebody is to trust them." - Ernest Hemingway

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📱 Thornless Bougainvillea Tree Video:



#Trees #How_to

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🌸 What bougainvillea doesn't need pruning and grows into a tree? Kristi's Garden Secrets - sound on! 🎤

• 
  🌸 Tired of pruning your thorny bougainvillea that takes over your yard? Here’s one that breaks all the rules.

No thorns, no pruning - and it grows into a bushy little tree!
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  🌸 It's called Bougainvillea arborea, or Thornless Bougainvillea Tree.
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  🌸 It stays tidy, blooms lavender flowers with a light scent, and it won’t overgrow your space. A total gem if you want beauty without the chaos!

🛒 Plant the Bougainvillea That Behaves!

📱 Watch in high quality on YouTube

#Trees #How_to

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☂️ What to plant in a shady spot? Unusual variegated flowers of Lavender Ice!

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  💜 Thunbergia erecta Lavender Ice, or Lavender Lace, is a unique, rare variety of King's Mantle with stunning lavender-off-white variegated flowers.
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  💜 Unlike many variegated plants, this one is vigorous and easy to grow. It can be used as a showy garden specimen or a low-growing hedge, and it responds well to pruning, which encourages more blooms.
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  💜 This plant thrives in filtered light and will grow larger, darker leaves in shade. It reaches a height of 5-7 feet and has a dense habit, making it perfect for creating a hedge.
• 
  💜 Lavender Ice attracts butterflies and hummingbirds with its profusion of flowers
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  💜 For healthy growth, keep the soil consistently moist, but not soggy, and mulch around the base to retain moisture. If growing in a pot, frequent watering is key.
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  💜 It's hardy enough to withstand temperatures as low as 30F for short periods. Ideal for USDA Zones 9-11, this plant can also be grown in pots in colder climates.

🛒Bring home rare Lavender Ice!

#Container_Garden #Shade_Garden #Hedges_with_benefits #Butterfly_Plants

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