🐵 Monkey Orange or Monkey Ear? 🙉

• 🍊 Besides bizarre Monkey Ear Tree that we mentioned earlier, there is another interesting Monkey Tree -
• 🍊 The Monkey Orange (Strychnos spinosa) is a captivating fruit tree from tropical Africa and Madagascar, known for its vibrant yellow fruits and wide range of uses.
• 🍊This small to medium-sized tree, has glossy leaves and thorny branches that make it visually striking.

🍊 What does the Monkey Orange taste like?


The fruits, size of an orange, have a hard shell that protects their sweet-tart pulp with interesting pleasant taste somewhat similar to mangosteen. Some people say it tastes like a mix of citrus and pineapple with a hint of fermentation.
• 🍊Rich in vitamin C and B vitamins, the fruit can be enjoyed fresh or transformed into jams, juices, and even wine.
• 🍊Its durable wood is prized for carvings, and its leaves and roots are used in traditional medicine and as natural insecticides.
• 🍊Slow-growing yet resilient, this hardy tree thrives in full sun and well-drained soil, offering beauty, nourishment, and practicality - an excellent choice for tropical or subtropical landscapes.

🐒 Why is it called Monkey Orange?

The "monkey orange" likely gets its name from its appeal to monkeys that eat the fruit and distribute the seeds in their habitat in Africa.

🛒 Plant Monkey Orange

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🍑 How soon will Persimmon tree fruit?

• 🍑 Persimmons (Diospyros sp.) are fast-fruiting trees, perfect for gardeners seeking quick results.
• 🍑 Grafted varieties begin producing fruit immediately, even on young, container-grown trees as small as 2-3 feet tall, often flowering in their first year.
• 🍑 When planted in the ground, persimmons grow into compact, space-efficient trees that reliably produce a bountiful harvest every year.

📚 Learn more from previous post:

Native American Persimmon
Persimmons: best varieties for container culture
How to grow Persimmon tree

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🥭 How to make a simple and delicious mango smoothie

• 
  

  ✅ Ingredients:

• · 2 ripe mangoes, peeled and chopped
• · 1 cup milk (dairy or plant-based)
• · ½ cup plain yogurt (optional for creaminess)
• · 1-2 tablespoons honey or sugar (optional, to taste)
• · 1 cup ice cubes (adjust for desired thickness)

✅ Instructions:

• 
  · Add mango chunks, milk, yogurt, honey (if using), and ice cubes to a blender.
• · Blend until smooth and creamy.
• · Taste and adjust sweetness if needed.
• · Pour into glasses and serve immediately.

For a tropical twist, you can add a splash of orange juice, a banana, or a pinch of cardamom. Enjoy! 🥭

🛒 Plant a Mango Tree today for a happy crop tomorrow

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💐 This is why it's called Heaven Lotus Tree - fragrant and edible!

• Gustavia augusta - Heaven Lotus - is a stunning, small tropical tree from Brazil that looks like it stepped right out of a tropical paradise. The spectacular, perfumed flowers resembling Lotus are as beautiful as they are unique.
• These large, striking blooms with white-and pink petals and a magic sweet fragrance are so eye-catching that the central crown almost looks good enough to eat!
• Straight, often unbranched trunk, with a single cluster of leaves at the top, gives it a palm-like vibe. As it grows older, it may sprout a few large branches, each with its own leafy crown. The leaves are huge - no other tree around has leaves quite as big, except maybe a palm. They're long, narrow at the base, and broad at the top, making them a real showstopper.
• The rounded, pear-shaped fruit grow directly on the trunk (a trait called cauliflory, see earlier post) and contains delicious yellowish-orange pulp that can be boiled and resemble meat in taste. The leaves, when boiled into a decoction, are said to cure intoxication.
• Truly an exciting, one-of-a-kind tree, a gem for collectors! Can be grown in containers.

🛒 Enjoy your own Heaven Lotus Tree

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👍 Connecting with the Nature...

🍀 "Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better." - Albert Einstein

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