Fruits

Coyote Fruits Flowers Shrubs & Trees Gardening High Desert

Mr. Coyote, The Unexpected Guest

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read34 views

Living in the desert is like taking a gamble. Most days are amazingly beautiful, and the stars are bright and visible at night. It’s less noisy and polluted as opposed to life in bigger cities. The mountain view is breathtaking, especially when covered in snow, and yes, it snows quite often here. Almost everything you can imagine is at close proximity: schools, groceries, malls, outlet stores, parks, movie theaters, museums, clinics, medical facilities, gas stations, car washes, restaurants, and hotels, just to name a few.

For the most part, living in the High Desert is wonderful; however, we also have our gloomy moments: the extreme heat, the high and gusty winds, the weeds (the obnoxious and undesirable plants), the surge of weird and toxic individuals moving here and disrupting the once established peace, and then the wild animals.

In the past, I was told by some neighbors about seeing coyotes around and a few who raise poultry said some jumped into their yards in an attempt to get a chicken or two. I personally thought they were all making up stories, given that for over seventeen years, I never saw one. Well, not until three weeks ago, when I spotted one in the front yard. I was horrified and petrified. After a while, it jumped over the fence and disappeared around the corner.

Coyote in the Garden.

Late in the Spring we purchased a Mexican Fencepost Cactus, and a couple of weeks ago I noticed new (weird) growths from the top of the mother plant. At first I thought the tiny buds were flowers developing from the areoles, but they quickly turned into strange pups, as though the new growth are a different species: perhaps grafts?  I will be keeping a close watch on this one.

Mexican Fencepost Cactus new growth.

We were gifted a small Sour Fig (Hottentot Fig Ice Plant) this summer, and I am impressed at how much it has grown and spread. Also known as Carpobrotus Edulis, it is a ground-creeping plant with succulent leaves native to South Africa. I have been told that it is an invasive plant, and I will be moving it into a large pot to limit its spread.

Sour Fig.

Last week we harvested the Pomegranates and there were so many. We ate some and they are so sweet. We gifted some to our daughter’s friend who loves them and we will use them in meals and smoothies.

Ripe Pomegranates.

Happy gardening!

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JM Perez By JM Perez
Fruits Health and Wellness

Delicious Exotic Fruits

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read1.7K views

Fruits, hmmm! Don’t we just love them?
Well, I don’t know about you, but I enjoy them immensely and have been lucky enough to have eaten most of the following fruits. I have done some research and here is a list of the ones I remember.

Exotic Fruits.
Rambutan, Lychee, Pitiya and Miracle Fruit.

Exotic Fruits.
Durian, Buddha’s Hand, Chayote and Cherimoya.

Exotic Fruits.
Salak, Mangosteen, Ackee and Passion Fruit.

Exotic Fruits.
African Horned Cucumber, Carambola (Star Fruit), Physalis and Papaya.

Exotic Fruits.
Monstera Deliciosa, Soursop, Jackfruit and Feijoa.

Exotic Fruits.
Akebia, Jaboticaba, Cupuaçu and Dates (Date Palm Fruit).

Exotic Fruits.
Kumquat, Langsat, Pepino Melon and Asian Pear.

Exotic Fruits.
Green and Gold Kiwifruits, Ataulfo Mango, Pomegranate and Guava.

There are a lot more Exotic Fruits out there such as the Aguaje (fruit from the Moriche Palm Tree), Blood Oranges (California, Sanguinello, Tarocco, Italian, Australian, Moro), Blackfigs, Pineapple, Watermelon, Urucu (fruits from the Achiote Tree), Ugli, Citrus (Meyer Lemons, Yuzu, Finger Limes), Champagne Grapes, Coconut, Tamarillos, Cantaloupe, Longans, Mamey Sapote, Tamarind, Toddy Palm Seeds (from the Toddy Palm), Jambul fruit, Sapodilla fruits, and so much more.

Image Source: Carib Fruits, Living In Health, Wikipedia, 123fr, Riceplex, Mira Images, Organic Seeds, Explorediscovered, Food52, Zesprikiwi, Mango, Shutterstock, Shape, Winn-Dixie

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Vegetables Fruits Health and Wellness Strength of The Small

Fighting and Disease Preventing Foods

JM Perez By JM Perez2 min read670 views

I started actively reading about Cancer Fighting Food in 1997 when my Father was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and my research intensified in 2011 when I found out that my former neighbor was in her final stage of Cancer. They are so many disease fighting and preventing foods out there. For this post, I am only naming a few. Click on each one of them to learn about their health benefits (and possible side-effects, if any).

  • Soursop Fruit
    I fell in love with this Juicy fruit back in 1990 without knowing it benefits and without knowing what it was called then. I later found that it was called “Corossol” (its French name).  If I am not mistaken, I believe we had two Soursop trees growing in our front yard and I remember my Mother urging me not to eat too much and too fast. It would be great to have a few trees around here, from the Sweet Soursop.

How to Make/Use Soursop Tea (Source: Nature Chemo Care)

Boil 1 liter of water, then take 15 Soursop matured leaves (fresh or dried ones both have same effect) and 1 small stem cut into small pieces and put into the boiling water then continue to boil the water on medium flame for 30 minutes, until the water evaporates to 600 ml. Now the Soursop tea is ready to drink. Drink 1 cup (200 ml) filtered Soursop tea after cooling or warm, 3 times every day, in the morning, afternoon and in the night. For better taste you can add some honey (not sugar).

After drinking, the body feels the effects of heat, similar to the effects of chemotherapy but no side effects. In 1 or 2 weeks time you can feel the benefits of Soursop yourself, and in 4 weeks time the improvements can be checked with the doctor.

Note: every time you drink Soursop tea see that 30 minutes before and after, you don’t take any other food. Do not use it during pregnancy. Do not use in large single dosages and avoid long-term use.

Click here and here for additional information about this fruit. Click here for some delicious Soursop Fruit Recipes.

S.O.T.S. Divider

Source: OneGreenPlanet.org . MDAnderson.org . AllHealthNet.com.

Click here, here and here for more information on Disease Fighting Foods.

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Fruits Strength of The Small Gratitude People

“Good Fences Make Good Neighbors.”

JM Perez By JM Perez1 min read657 views

For all the things that suck about life; I for one, am grateful to have good neighbors.

You can choose your friends. You can choose your house and neighborhood; however, you cannot choose your neighbors. Good neighbors make good neighborhoods and can help improve your quality of life. Good neighbors are thoughtful and look out for each other. Bad neighbors are unpleasant to be around and can make life very difficult for others.

Good neighbors add to your set of skills allowing a neighborhood to maintain itself more efficiently since they are all working together. Look around your neighborhood and you will notice the ones that seem to work together and the ones that stand alone, doing their own thing.

Basket of freshly picked Peaches (a gift from my neighbor).
Basket of freshly picked Peaches (a gift from my neighbor).

HOW CAN WE BE GOOD NEIGHBORS?

Be considerate to everyone and practice the Golden Rule which states that “In everything, therefore, treat people the same way you want them to treat you …” – Matthew 7:12 (NASB)

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