Garden Blog - Top Tropicals

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PeopleCats Botanical Garden Grand Opening
Guided tour with Mark Hooten

PeopleCats Botanical Garden at TopTropicals

Top Tropicals Garden Center is pleased to invite you to visit our new PeopleCats Botanical Garden on the grounds of Top Tropicals in Ft Myers. It is named in honor of the relationship with our beloved Cats, who we treat like People. You'll see our Garden PeopleCats roaming the property. As a matter of fact, they rule the garden!
The Garden has many mature trees and plants so you can see what they look like before your purchase them in our Garden Center. And of course, our PeopleCats will be guiding you in the Gardens!

Peoplecats - cat Marco at Top Tropicals gate

PeopleCats Garden - Top Tropicals Ghost light in the forest the spirit is always watching!

Photo above: blue light in the forest - TopTropicals Garden Ghost, the spirit is always watching!

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Longevity Spinach Superfood Recipes: how to make healthy food delicious. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Longevity Spinach Superfood Recipes: how to make healthy food delicious

Longevity Spinach Superfood Recipes: how to make healthy food delicious Longevity Spinach Superfood Recipes: how to make healthy food delicious
👨 Longevity Spinach Superfood Recipes: how to make healthy food delicious.

Can healthy food taste delicious?

Healthy Longevity Spinach... It tastes like... spinach? You can add it to your salads, but let's face it, you can only eat so much of a salad. So try it cooked - you will be so surprised and want to eat it every day!

🍳 Eggs with Longevity Spinach

You will need:

🌿 Longevity Spinach or Okinawa Spinach: 2 handfuls
  • 1 cup Bacon (optional), sliced or chopped, or: 2 tbsp Olive or vegetable oil

1 large Onion, sliced in semi-rings
1 sweet pepper, red or yellow, sliced
3-5 cloves garlic, chopped (optional, to taste)
5-6 eggs
1 cup ground beef or turkey/chicken (optional), or mushrooms
½ cup shredded cheese (regular or Parmesan)
salt and pepper to taste
🌶 Sweet Chile Sauce (optional. Tastes great with this dish!)
  • 🍷 a glass of your favorite wine or cocktail to enjoy your dinner 🍷


Preparation time: 10 min
Makes dinner for 2

Open detailed recipe

🛒 Order Longevity Spinach

#Edible_Forest #Recipes

TopTropicals.com
We Grow Happiness

Date:

How to learn the Truth about fertilizers. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

How to learn the Truth about fertilizers

How to learn the Truth about fertilizers How to learn the Truth about fertilizers How to learn the Truth about fertilizers
How to learn the Truth about fertilizers.

Spring is here and so is the time to give your plants more food for active growth!

❓ How to decide which fertilizer to chose with so many of them on the market? The basic idea is -

❗️ All fertilizers and good for plants, because it's food!

But like with every food in must be in right time, right kind, and right amount.

Basic types of fertilizers:

  • ❇️ Controlled-release fertilizer is coated and release nutrients slowly and constantly within labeled amount of time (3-6-12 months). Good for stepping-up and transplanting.

  • ❇️ Slow release granulated fertilizer breaks down quickly, especially in the heat, and should be used as a top-dress only occasionally (for example, to green up a plant quickly).

  • ❇️ Liquid fertilizers are the most efficient in a long run. They make plants strong, resistant, healthy and productive, slowly but surely building up energy in their system. This is why all professional food farms, from veggies to hemp, stick to liquid plant food.

We suggest Sunshine Boosters, they are safe to use with every watering and year around. Their formulas are natural (based on organic amino-acids) and great for edibles.

🛒Get your plants some food

#Edible_Forest #Fertilizers #How_to

TopTropicals.com
We Grow Happiness

Date:

What are the health benefits of Gardening? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

What are the health benefits of Gardening?

What are the health benefits of Gardening?
What are the health benefits of Gardening?

Therapeutic effect of gardening is not just a modern discovery. Throughout history, various cultures have recognized the mental and physical benefits of gardening...

🏺 In ancient Egypt, physicians prescribed walks through gardens for patients struggling with mental health issues.

🕯 During the Middle Ages in Europe, monastery gardens were designed not only for sustenance but also for meditation and relaxation.

🔮 Gardening has been shown to reduce stress, anxiety, and depression while promoting relaxation and a sense of well-being.

😅 The physical activity involved in gardening also provides exercise, contributing to overall health.

🌳 So, whether you're tending to a small indoor herb garden or cultivating a vast outdoor plot, the act of gardening can be a powerful tool for both mental and physical wellness.

🛒 Shop tropical spice plants and herbs

#Edible_Forest #Remedies

🏵 TopTropicals

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How to get a HUGE crop. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

How to get a HUGE crop

How to get a HUGE crop
🍇 How to get a HUGE crop of grapes, like in this post, or any other fruit crop?👆

🍝 Your answer is SUNSHINE C-Cibus - eco-friendly concentrated nutrition booster for fruiting plants.

  • 🟢 Helps to produce strong growth, high yield, larger fruit size.

  • 🟢 Improves quantity and quality of flowers and ability to set fruit. Encourages profuse blooming and reduces bud-flower-fruit drop.

  • 🟢 Can be used as often as with every watering and year around.

  • 🟢 Scientifically-balanced stable formula is organic Amino-acid based and has NO EDTA chelators to eliminate nutrients lockup; it does not affect crop taste.

  • 🟢 Great for edibles! Based on Organic Amino Acids.

  • 🟢 Pollinating insects friendly!

🐞🐝

🛒Get food for your Grape Vines

#Edible_Forest #Fertilizers #How_to

🏵 TopTropicals

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Do you know what is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world? A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Do you know what is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world?

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus)

🍈 Do you know what is the largest tree-borne fruit in the world?

Answer: Jackfruit (Artocarpus heterophyllus) is the biggest and one of the most fascinating fruit in the world.

#Edible_Forest #Nature_Wonders

TopTropicals.com
We Grow Happiness

Date:

Why is it called Pineapple Guava? It tastes just like strawberries! Feijoa Superfood. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Why is it called Pineapple Guava? It tastes just like strawberries! Feijoa Superfood

Pineapple Guava, Guavasteen, Feijoa sellowiana

Pineapple Guava, Guavasteen, Feijoa sellowiana

Pineapple Guava, Guavasteen, Feijoa sellowiana

Pineapple Guava, Guavasteen, Feijoa sellowiana

🍓 Why is it called Pineapple Guava? It tastes just like strawberries! Feijoa Superfood.
  • Feijoa is certainly one of the easiest fruit trees to grow as it does not require much care.
  • Feijoa is an attractive, evergreen large shrub that produces lovely edible flowers and fruit.
  • The fruit is eaten fresh, added to smoothies, fruit salads, used to make delicious jam (that tastes like Strawberry Jam on steroids!), and wicked chutneys.


Feijoa fruit go a long way in flavor!

📚 Learn more about Feijoa

🛒Grow your own Feijoa

#Edible_Forest #Guava

TopTropicals.com
We Grow Happiness

Date:

Tamarind. A Top Tropicals Garden Blog post.

Tamarind

Tamarind fruit - Tamarinus indica

Tamarind fruit - Tamarinus indica

Tamarind fruit - Tamarinus indica

Tamarind fruit - Tamarinus indica

Tamarind flowers - Tamarinus indica

Tamarind flowers - Tamarinus indica

📖 Fun Fact: Tamarind is used as a souring agent in many cuisines around the world, adding a tangy flavor to dishes. How to use Tamarind in cooking?

🍲 Tamarind Chutney Recipe

Ingredients:
  • · 1 cup tamarind pulp
  • · 1 cup water
  • · 3/4 cup brown sugar or jaggery
  • · 1 tsp each of ground cumin, ginger, and coriander
  • · 1/2 tsp red chili powder
  • · Salt to taste


  • Instructions:
  • · Simmer tamarind pulp and water.
  • · Strain, return to heat, and add sugar.
  • · Stir in spices and salt.
  • · Simmer until thickened.
  • · Cool and store in the refrigerator.


🛒Grow your own Tamarind Tree

#Edible_Forest #Fun_Facts #Recipes

🏵 TopTropicals

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PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cats of the day: Biggy's Cat Hospital

Biggy checking on patient Abu when he couldn't walk

During these challenging times for the whole planet, we receive kind letters from our customers checking on how our PeopleCats are doing, especially those that previously were ill. And since we promised to follow up on everyone, including heart-breaking story of Raja and Abu, today's report is about everybody's progress!

As we mentioned in our previous newsletter, several cats in TopTropicals Cat Sanctuary had a coronavirus (we call it COVID-Cat-20), or simply a cat respiratory infection. Chiefy, Snitch, Marco and Biggy had it really bad, but some other PeopleCats surprisingly didn't get it! Just like with humans. Lucky King didn't have a single sneeze!
Finally, everybody has recovered by now, but it has been a very stressful couple of weeks for us, considering limited vet availability at this stay-home time. On top of that, Lil S had an abscess and was also contained in a home hospital, away from flu-quarantined PeopleCats. Our homes become real cat hospitals!
We are thankful to our customers support, especially Silvia who made several donations for our PeopleCats, and also recommended antiseptic pads - those worked great for Lil S!
Abu and Raja's adventures were not over... After 2 weeks of seeing a vet treating their infections and injuries, they got worse... Then after a couple of weeks in another hospital (and a couple thousand more in bills) we were suggested to put them down as hopeless since they would never walk again... But Kristi did not want to believe it, she did not give up! The kittens heard her. They won. Today, they are all better, walking, jumping and playing!

Thank you Kristi!
Never give up hope!

Stay safe and healthy with your PeoplePets!

TopTropicals PeopleCat Club

Thank you everybody for supporting us in helping PeopleCat Community!
Make your kind donation today and receive a surprise gift from us. Every little bit helps! Thank you and God bless you and your pets!

Date:

Meet PeopleCats of TopTropicals. Cat of the Day: Lucky Abu

"You will always be lucky if you know how to make friends with strange cats".
Colonial American Proverb

- our last Cat of The Day Itembi started with this quote... and guess what, it proved right again!..

Right around the corner from TopTropicals, in the woods, Kristi noticed a skinny poor cat... she looked so miserable, just bones and skin... she could hardly walk and looked injured. And yet she had 2 kittens following her! The Cat Family could use some meal and a warm home. Unfortunately they seemed to be feral and wouldn't let Kristi pick them up.
Compassionate Kristi spend couple days brainstorming how to save these poor PeopleCats in need. She ended up setting a trap and... bingo! The first Little Purrson found its forever sweet home at TopTropicals!
...The cat groomer Lindsey came home from school. First bath time... the kitty smelled like poop! Soon the bath time was over... Full of fleas, and it's a boy!

She named him Abu. Just like the delicious exotic tropical fruit! Or, a mischievous Aladdin's Monkey companion ;)

We will send you updates on Abu and hope that his Mom will join him soon at TopTropicals Cat Paradise!

Remember that every dollar you spend on TopTropicals plants, is split between plant growers and PeopleCats who are our all-time companions and helpers in our daily hard work! We thank our customers for buying plants and thank our PeopleCats for keeping us cool, kind, and happy!

Check out the Video: ">Meet PeopleCats of TopTropicals and more Cat of the Day stories.

Lucky Abu: from rags to riches!

Being trapped in a cage for a few hours is not so bad if you have your own petting staff!