This is a stretch but I have enjoyed being your California Xenagogue, which just happens to be a noun and means guide.
I thought I might write about Xanthocarpous which means to have yellow fruit. One of the best places to find yellow fruit is at the California Citrus State Historic Park in Riverside, California. It will someday be the last orange grove in Southern California. The citrus industry that made Riverside the highest per capita industry in the early 1900's is dwindling with the cost of water and the extreme building of homes and businesses.
The State of California has mandated that California Citrus be a working grove. There are many acres of citrus trees and a varietal grove with specialties. One of them is the fingered citron, a yellow fruit and the origin of all citrus species. There is no juice in the fingered citron (or Buddha's Hand). It is where the spice Citron comes from.
I know a lot about this state park as my husband and I were docents there for three years.This is the visitor's center. There are some fun interactive displays.
Beautiful! This post reminded me of a conversation we had today. Turns out most oranges in the state for Florida come from California. Or at least, the ones in the big grocery chains do. Haven't quite figured out why, but maybe it has to do with the change of the seasons. You think Florida would be a great place to grow things, but as it turns out, it's too wet for most things to survive. And the soil, ahem, I mean SAND? LOL. I guess it makes sense.
ReplyDeleteOur navel oranges ripen in Dec/Jan so our oranges here are currently from Chili. There are some navels that ripen later but not for the main produce market. Oranges do well in Florida as well. They seem to like the sandy soil.
DeleteYou did good. I know this is going to sound like I am totally loony tunes, but I can tell the difference between California OJ vs Florida OJ. Must be the soil or climate. But I can taste the difference and I like California oranges and OJ much better. Sweeter!
ReplyDeleteThe water table in Florida is much higher than the water table in Riverside County. Therefore, the oranges from here have less juice and more pulp. Most orange juice is from Florida but we were told that it is a mix of the pulp and juice from both places.
DeleteYou have been an Xcellent Xenaguide with your great photos and commentaries. I must say, your other X-fruit/spice/hand is way different. But it was a good X word and certainly worthy of mention.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your visits and comments to CollectInTexas Gal.
My Letter'X'...TeXas Our TeXas Quilt
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I'm intrigued by Buddha's Hand, having never seen one of those before. Don't you just miss all the orchards and fruit stands. California has changed so much over the years. It's sad, but at least she'll always have good beaches.
ReplyDeleteIf I ever, finally, make it to Riverside, I'm definitely going to visit this park. The thought that this may be the last orange grove is quite sad. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteDon't be a Hippie
Take 25 to Hollister
I am so intrigued by the photo of the citrus fruit, Buddha's hand, fingered citron! It ties into what I'm learning about gardening and the history of cultivation - how our ancestors may have tasted a fruit or root or leaf and found it edible though perhaps not that tasty or sweet or juicy and over time they cultivated it and bred it and kept the varieties that yielded bigger and richer harvests.
ReplyDeleteAnn, I've been wanting to know if you are on twitter at all?
How funny to have a convo via 2 different blogs! Give twitter a second try, sometime. The #atozchallenge is very active. I included a link to your post on the citron in my Ukulele post.
DeleteThat Buddha's Hand freaks me out. I saw it on Iron Chef one time - didn't care for it on tv either. HA!
ReplyDelete