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Purrrfect Mother

Purrrfect Mother Purrrfect Mother Purrrfect Mother
🐈 Purrrfect Mother

"There is no way to be a perfect mother, but a million ways to be a good one." - Jill Churchill

📸 Josephine, the street-smart cat, came with a litter (of course!) but quickly proved to be the purrfect mom to her kittens. Her son Charlie Jr. and other 3 kids - Philemon, Sushi and Lily - definitely hit the jackpot at Top Tropicals Sebring Farm!

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats #Quotes

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Mama Cat of the day: Josephine

Mama cat with kitten

"There is no way to be a perfect mother, but a million ways to be a good one." - Jill Churchill

Josephine, the street-smart cat, came with a litter (of course!) but quickly proved to be the purrfect mom to her kittens. Her son Charlie Jr. and other 3 kids - Philemon, Sushi and Lily - definitely hit the jackpot at Top Tropicals Sebring Farm!

Mama cat with kittens

More PeopleCats stories

Date:

Why we love Jocote

😊 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:

  • ✅ Rich in Vitamin C. Helps boost your immune system, supports skin health, and acts as a powerful antioxidant.

  • ✅ Good Source of Fiber. Aids digestion, helps prevent constipation, and supports gut health.

  • ✅ Anti-inflammatory Properties. Traditionally used to relieve swelling, inflammation, and minor skin infections.

  • ✅ Supports Heart Health. Contains antioxidants and nutrients that may help reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels.

  • ✅ Hydrating and Refreshing. The fruit has high water content and is often eaten fresh during hot weather for hydration.

  • ✅ 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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Go for the great

Go for the great
⬆️ Go for the great

"Don't be afraid to give up the good to go for the great." - John D. Rockefeller

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats #Quotes

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Want Constant Blooms? Plant Clerodendrums

Your Shortcut to a Colorful Garden

Cat with Bleeding Heart Clerodendrum

Q: Q: I live in Florida, and while everything is green, I want more color in my garden and patio. What low-maintenance perennials can add nonstop blooms without constant care? I'm tired of annuals that don't last. Do such plants even exist?

A: Yes, they do - and your perfect solution is Clerodendrums. These colorful tropical perennials grow fast, bloom for most of the year, and thrive in both sun and shade. They're easy to care for, relatively cold-tolerant, and come in many shapes: shrubs, vines, and even small trees. Ideal for both garden beds and containers.

Why Grow Clerodendrums?

Clerodendrum philippinum - Cashmere Bouquet

Clerodendrums are tough, reliable, and visually striking plants:
- Fast-growing with a compact habit
- Available in many forms: shrubs, vines, and small trees
- Colorful flowers, many of them are sweetly fragrant!
- Thrive in sun or shade; cold tolerant; not picky about soil
- Bloom repeatedly or continuously
- Excellent for pots, patios, or indoors

Clerodendrums as Shrubs

Clerodendrum ugandense and mastacanthum

- Clerodendrum bungei - Glory Bower: fragrant pink blooms, spreads quickly
- Clerodendrum incisum - Musical Note: unique buds shaped like musical notes
- Clerodendrum inerme - Wild Jasmine: salt-tolerant, good for seaside areas
- Clerodendrum mastacanthum - Pink Butterfly Bush: long-blooming, eye-catching pink
- Clerodendrum paniculatum - Pagoda Flower: layered red-orange towers of flowers
- Clerodendrum philippinum - Cashmere Bouquet: double fragrant flowers, shade-tolerant
- Clerodendrum ugandense - Blue Butterfly: delicate blue blooms that attract pollinators

Clerodendrums as Vines

Clerodendrum thomsoniae - Bleeding Heart

- Clerodendrum thomsoniae - Bleeding Heart: classic red-and-white contrast, climbs easily
- Clerodendrum speciosum - Red Bleeding Heart: vivid magenta blooms, great on trellises

Clerodendrums as Small Trees

Clerodendrum quadriloculare - Winter Starburst

- Clerodendrum minahassae - Fountain Clerodendrum: upright, white flower sprays
- Clerodendrum sahelangii - Champagne Clerodendrum: cascading white blooms
- Clerodendrum quadriloculare - Winter Starburst: purple leaves, late winter blooms
- Clerodendrum schmitii - Chains of Glory: dangling flower clusters, unusual look
- Clerodendrum wallichii - Bridal Veil: long white flowers, graceful arching branches

Bloom Faster - Shop Now

Clerodendrum minahasse

Date:

Secret Banana Daiquiri Recipe: Healthy Never Tasted So Good!

Secret Banana Daiquiri Recipe: Healthy Never Tasted So Good!
🍌 Secret Banana Daiquiri Recipe: Healthy Never Tasted So Good!

  • 🍹 Banana Daiquiri Recipe Ingredients:

  • · 1 ripe banana
  • · 2 ounces light rum
  • · 1 tablespoon sugar
  • · 1 ounce lime juice
  • · 1/2 ounce triple sec (optional for added depth)
  • · Ice cubes
  • · Slice of lime or banana for garnish

  • 🍹Instructions:

  • · Prepare the Banana: Peel the banana and cut it into chunks.
  • · Blend the Ingredients: In a blender, combine the banana chunks, light rum, sugar, lime juice, and triple sec.
  • · Add a handful of ice cubes. Blend on high until the mixture is smooth.
  • · If the mixture is too thick, you can add a small amount of water or more lime juice to adjust the consistency.


🍹Garnish and Serve:

  • · Pour the mixture into a chilled glass. Garnish with a slice of lime on the rim of the glass or a small wheel of banana. Serve immediately and enjoy the refreshing tropical flavors!
  • · This Banana Daiquiri is not only refreshing but also offers a creamy texture and a perfect balance of sweetness and citrus. It's a fantastic choice for hot days or when you're in the mood for something a bit exotic. Cheers!


📚 About Banana from previous posts:

🛒 Banana Bliss Starts Here

#Food_Forest #Recipes

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Spooning

Spooning
🍴 Spooning

"Spooning is always a good idea, unless you're a fork."

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats

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The Tree Everyones Talking About: Variegated Mahoe

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe flowers

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe flowers

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe leaves

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe leaves

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe young tree

Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum - Variegated Mahoe young tree

🍀 The Tree Everyone's Talking About: Variegated Mahoe
  • 🌳 Hibiscus tiliaceus Variegatum is the must-have tree of the year - and for good reason! This stunning, fast-growing beauty delivers shade in just one season, with a more compact, umbrella-like shape than its wild cousin, the standard Mahoe (that grows into a very large tree).
  • 🌳 Variegated Mahoe's eye-catching foliage is a show in itself: splashes of red, white, green, and pink create a living kaleidoscope. The blooms are just as magical - starting yellow and deepening to orange and red as they age.
  • 🌳 Perfect for Southern gardens and hot-climate landscapes, the Variegated Mahoe is low-maintenance, colorful, cool and cooling, and endlessly rewarding. Everyone wants it, and once you see it, you'll understand why!


🛒 Add color, shade, and tropical flair to your garden with Variegated Mahoe

#Trees #Discover

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Do good

Do good
🔍 Do good

"While you are young, strong, and full of energy, never tire of doing good! Happiness does not exist, nor should it. If life has meaning and purpose, that meaning and purpose are not in our happiness but in something more rational and greater. Do good!" - Anton Chekhov

🐈 PeopleCats.Garden 
#PeopleCats #Quotes

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Can I Grow Avocado Outside the Tropics?

Mexican Avocado

Mexican Avocado

🥑 Can I Grow Avocado Outside the Tropics?

👍 Yes - with the right variety and care.
While avocados love tropical and subtropical climates, certain cold hardy Avocados types - especially Mexican varieties - can survive outside the tropics, even in USDA Zone 8b (like San Antonio, TX). Once established, some can handle short freezes down to 15F, even as low as 10F in dry climates.

Key Factors for Cold Hardiness:
  • 🔤 Plant Size: Young trees are tender. Protect with mulch, blankets, and even Christmas lights during freezes. Mature trees are tougher.
  • 🔤 Wind Protection: Wind chills do more damage than cold air alone. Plant near a south-facing wall or sheltered spot.
  • 🔤 Tree Health: Healthy trees handle cold better. Fertilize regularly during the growing season.
  • 🔤 Water & Humidity: Water less in winter. Avoid soggy soil - good drainage is a must. Trees in dry winter climates tolerate more cold than those in humid areas.


✏️ Tip: Always check the hardiness rating for your avocado variety. Protection matters most during the first 1-2 winters.

📚More about Avocado:
Posts about #Avocado
Avocado Variety Guide

🛒 Shop cold hardy Avocados and grow your own guacamole

#Food_Forest #Discover #Avocado

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