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TwitterDo you know that East African wildlife has the variety of features like,mammals,reptiles,insects ,trees & flowers that make it beauty and greener?If not then you have the pleasure to learn about trees & flowers found in East Africa both on the Coastal Region, The National Parks,in plantations ,Nyika Plateaus,on mountains,in semi-arid areas,on islands,lakes,rivers,marshy grounds,swamps,damps,rocky and hillsides . These flowers and trees are differentiated with their appearance,size,and the areas ,that the enviroment favours them. There are different types of Trees & Flowers found all over East Africa as below, BOobab Almost unmistakable ,with its swollen trunk and thick root-like branches. Some specimens have trunks measuring 9m or more in diameter reaching a height of up to 18m. During the dry season they bear no leaves but at the onset of the rains they develop a dense canopy. They bear white flowers about 15cm wide and develop oblong, woody fruits up to 30cm in length. The structures of the trunk is fibrous andd holds a certain amount of water when no surface water is available. At these times Elephants often inflict considerable damage in search of moisture as relief from the drought conditions. Yelllow Barked Acacia/Fever Tree A reasonably common species easily recognised by its yellow/green bark colour. It is usually to be found along the banks of rivers and streams and in areas of damp,marshy ground. Early explorers of the region associated the tree with their developing ‘fever’ hence the name . Infact the ‘fever’ was due to malaria transmitted by mosquitoes that principally inhabit the damp areas favoured by this tree. Flat Topped Acacia There are some 1,200 species of acacia distributed across the tropical and warm temperature regions of the world. The Flat Topped Acacia is afamiliar sight in grassland areas of East Africa ,its spreading canopy providing shade for many savannah animals. A native tree found over much of Africa and the Middle East, it produces profilic amounts of fruiting pods that provide much needed fodder for animals in dry areas. A medium sized tree growing to a height of around 15m in suitable areas. It is extremely drought resistant and can survive in dry semi desert areas with low annual rainfall. Under these conditions it may only grow to a height of a metre or so. The flowers are white andd grow in small clusters,they have a very aromatic smell. In some regions of Africa the Flat Topped Acacia is the main species collected by local people for firewood and for charcoal production. In some areas of Tanzania this species has been severely reduced by Elephants that strip and eat the bark. Whistling Acacia An abundant small bush armed with long white spines and adorned with blackish galls the size of small golf balls. The galls,each of which has several small holes leading to its hollow centre,are inhabited by colonies of aggressive CREMATOGASTER ants, which form mutually beneficial partnership with the acacia. The bush offers housing for the ants by way of the galls and the ants provide protection for the acacia by swarming over any browsing animal and inflicting upleasant bites to the lips and tongue. Despite the presence of the ants and the sharp spines, Giraffes often browse unconcerned at least for a few minutes until the ants begin to bite home,thereby encouraging the individual to move on elsewhere. Sausage Tree A widely distributed tree in wet savannah areas and along water courses at altitudes below 1,850 m. A substantial tree growing to a height of about 9m, the flowers are trumpet shaped , dull red in colour, about 12cm in length and posses a rather unpleasant smell. The flowers hang on cord-like strings and bloom during the night,falling to the ground during early morning. The fruits are large and hang on the tree like long sausages , hence its popular name. The fruits are not edible but are used for medicinal purposes in some areas. They reach lengths of 60cm and can weigh up to 7kgs. Candelabra Tree A succulent tree common in some areas of the Rift valley . A large forest of Candelabra Trees can be found in Lake Nakuru National Park. They grow to a height of 15m . The trunk is short and thick nd forms a solid base from which spread a multitude of branches that resemble the shape of candelabras. Flame Tree Originally discovered in Madagascar in the early part of the 19th century , this beautiful tree has since been cultivated in tropical regions throughout the world. Growing to a height of around 15m and flourishing at altitudes below 1,500 m , this tree creates a stunning sight when in full flower. The flowers, which appear before the leaves develop, are rich scarlet red and grow in dense clusters . A decidous tree that sheds its fern-like leaves at the onset of the dry season, having flowered andd developed long brown seedpods. Date Palm Common throughout much of the region in the hotter drier areas, usually to be found along the banks of streams and rivers. Arab traders first introduced the Date Palm to the region as asource of food. Growing to a height of 20-50m , the slender trunk iscrowned with 30-40 pinnate leaves up to 4m in length. There are in the region of 40 different cultivated varieties of Date Palm throughout the tropics, the fruits of which ripen at different times of the year . The leaves are used in the production of baskets and mats. Doum Palm One of the easiest palms to identify, being the only one having branches which divide regularly into two. They often reach heights in excess of 15m. The fruit is orange/brown in colour and about 8cm long. It is not edible by humans but is eaten by elephants that are, to a great extend, responsible for seed dispersal. The leaves of the Doum Palm are used in weaving of baskets and mats. Coconut Palm Some mystery still surrounds the original home of this species, but it is assumed by many to have drifted on ocean currents from South America to colonise the African shores . Growing to a height of around 30m ,the slender trunk is usually swollen at the base and is crowned with 20-30 pinnate leaves reaching up to 6m in length. Restricted in distribution to coastal regions the Coconut Palm is extremely salt tolerant and can live for up to 100 years , producing 50-80 fruits each year. The fruiting nut provides a valuable source of food and drink in some areas as well as the outer husk fibres providing material for rope making,matting and house thatching. Jacaranda An original native of Brazil this tree can now be found in parks,gardens and city centre avenues over much of the region. They grow to aheight of 10m or more and have fine fern-like leaves which they shed during the dry season. The flower after the short rains blossoming into a mass of delicate bell-shaped violet blue flowers, which grow in clusters. Bottlebrush Tree Originally from Australia these very ornament trees have beeen extensively planted in parks and gardens throughout the region. It derives its name from the numerous red flowers arranged around a stem in the shape of a bottlebrush . They produce woody fruits that are disc shaped . They can grow to heights in excess of 7m. Candle Bush A comparatively small shrub reaching a height of around 3-4m at most. It has a rounded shape and bears very handsome erect spikes of yellow flowers giving the effect of a candelabra bearing numerous canddles, hence its common name. It is commonly found along roadside verges and woodland edges over much of the region. Sisal A native plant of Mexico imported to East Africa by early settlers and extensively cultivated for the manufacture of twine and rope. Although not cultivated to gthe same extend today it can still be found in parks and gardens and along roadside verges. It has elongated leaves up to 1. 5m in length that have sharp spines at the tips and grow in a circular formation at ground level. The flowering spike,which erupts from the centre of its cluster of leaves,grows to a height of 6m and bears branches of yellow flowers. Aloe There are in the region of 60 Aloe species to be found in East Africa. Volkensii is tall, growing up to 6m in height. It has grey-green leaves forming a rosette at the top from which branch spikes of red flowers. They are found at altitudes upto 2,300m, usually on rocky ground. Frangipani Originating in the West Indies this familiar Small Tree is often found in parks and gardens throughout the tropics. It has a distinctive shape with regular branching . The flowers are variable in colour including pink,white and yellow and are strongly scented. The petals are arranged in an overlapping fashion, reminiscent of an open fan. It is thought to have been named after the French botanist Charles Plumier who first described it during his travels in the Caribbean in the 17th century. Desert Rose An indigenous succulent scrub or small tree of dry areas and rocky hillsides throughout much of the region at low altitudes. The trunk and branches have a swollen and slunted apppearance and bear very attractive pink flowers about 5cm across. The sap is very toxic and in the past was used by local people to impregnate arrowheads. Bourgainvillea A very attractive and common native shrub of Brazil found thoughout East Africa. It is thorny shrub often forming dense hedges in parks and gardens and is amass of the most colourful bracts which range from purple to crimson,pink,red,white and yellow. Pyjama Lily This very attractive plant has long tubular flowers that are pink and white striped, giving rise to its popular name Pyjama Lily . The leaves are grey-green in colour. It is a reasonably common plant of open grasslands at altitudes up to 2,700m. Fireball Lily This superb lily appears soon after the first rains in areas of open grassland and savannah ,on rocky hillsides and forest edges at altitudes up to 2,200m. The spectacular red flowers are carried on a single stem and as many as 150 individual flowers can be found in one spherical spike which can be 20cm in diameter. Once the flowers have faded and died the thick upright leaves appear. Sodoms Apple There are around 50 species of solanum to be found in East Africa :incanum is very common along roadside verges and on areas of waste ground. It is quick to colonise recently excavated ground. It is a very tough shrub with fearsome spines on the stems and stalks. It bears flowers that are blue to mauve with yellow centres that measure around 15mm across. The fruits take the form of hard yellow balls which although edible are rather bitter. Leonotis Nepetifolia There are 9 species of leonotis to be found in East Africa,L. nepetifolia is very common over most of the region, flourishing along roadside verges. A plant growing to 1. 5m with spherical clusters of orange flowers growing at intervals along the plants woody stem. The individual flowers, of which there are many on each cluster,are about 25mm in length. All the mentioned species of Trees & Flowers are found in East Africa for you to have a scenic safari you can use A Private Charter Fixed Wing Or Helicopter. East Africa inhabitants are farmers and they own big plantations of maize, sugarcanne,cassava,millet,finger millet,flowers,potatoes,soyabeans,pyrethrum,sunflower which earns them foreign exchange when they export them. There are Major International Airports to serve these purpose in Uganda, Entebbe International Airport,Tanzania, Daresaalam International Airport ,Kilimanjaro International Airport andd Mwanza while in Kenya Jomo Kenyatta International Airport,Eldoret International and Moi International Airport for cargo and freight flights all over the world. You can do aerial survey and photography of The Great Rift Valley in Kenya,Ngorongoro Crater and Oldonyo Lengai In Tanzania and Karuma Falls ,Kabalega in Uganda. You come as a visitor and you get to discover area of investments with you bussiness and gives an opportunity to use you holiday as abussiness venture, what a Great Deal!East Africa is comprised of many bussiness opportunities which when visiting can take advantage to learn more and even invest. There are mining sites in Tanzania ,Geita 85 miles North of Mwanza . We have companies providing both commercial flights and private charters all over East Africa ranging from Bussiness Jets,Beechcrafts, Caravans,Helicopters,Small piston engine aircrafts. Especially Kenya and Uganda is the gateway for flights to the war troubled South sudan,Democratic Republic Of Congo and Chad. United Nations and Ngos have their Regional offices located in Kenya and Uganda for the Eastern and Central Africa operations. All you need, safaris,wildlife,flights,investments are all available in East Africa.
Archive for the ‘Trees for Arizona’ Category
East Africa Safari ,The Beauty Sorrounded By Trees & Flowers
January 26th, 2010 
Rick 
Posted in Trees for Arizona 
Tags: Africa, Beauty, East, Flowers, Safari, Sorrounded, Trees 
No Comments »Desert Landscaping
January 25th, 2010 Rick Not everyone has the pleasure of having great land for their landscaping project and therefore it can be a lot harder for them. It could be that your land is like a desert where the plant growth is Very Rare and there is hardly any green grass. When the land looks barren and unpromising, it can be hard to imagine it looking good at all. The good news for people with land like this is that there are actually things that can be done in order to make it look better. If you live in a dry and arid climate then your landscaping is going to take a little more planning than some other parts of the country. Desert landscaping will have to work with a plan that includes only plants and trees that can survive with much less water than some other plants. There is no point in planting something if it can not sustain itself afterwards. So take some time with your desert landscaping plan and make sure that you have done everything suited to the climate. In the hot and dry Southwestern United States, landscaping takes on an entirely different significance than in other regions. As water is so precious here, conservation is a major concern of both home owners and city officials. But desert home owners don’t have to sacrifice beauty because of the lack of water. Dry landscaping is an excellent way to make a landscape unusual and eye-catching, while using minimum water resources. To start with you will need to do quite a bit of planning. Because the land is not the best and the climate may be difficult, it does need a lot of thought. You need to have some idea on what look you want to achieve too and then see if it is at all possible to achieve this. To get some inspiration and ideas try searching around on the Internet and looking in magazines. The hardest thing you will be faced with is coming up with a design that will suit your landscape. However, because the land is more awkward you should not let it stop you from finding a great design to transform Your Garden completely. You will need to bear in mind about what space is available and also you need to consider your budget. Cacti are the most popular and versatile plant in desert landscaping. When shopping for cacti for your desert landscaping you will find a large variety, both in size as in shapes and colors. You will be surprised when you learn that there are cacti several feet tall and others small as a couple of inches. Flowers are not uncommon in cacti, and the variety is also large, though they don’t bloom for a long time. One exception is the prickly pear, named after its fruit. This cactus produces a beautiful yellow flower in summertime. Cacti grow in a wide array of sizes and shapes. Its flowers are large, similar to branches and spines that arise from areoles. Most of the varieties are night bloomers. This is since they are generally pollinated by nocturnal small animals or insects like bats and moths. Their varieties range from tall and columnar to small and globular. Cacti often grow as shrubs, trees or a type of ground cover. In Mexico and Central America the Agave Americana (century plant) is used as fencing on farms. Because of their sharp spines and margins they keep cattle in and people and predators out. The plant, used as an ornamental, makes a beautiful addition to any rock or cactus garden. The century plant can be grown in a container, however it’s size will be much smaller than if it were grown in the ground. Longwood Blue (bluebeard) is a shrub, it is deciduous and it will grow back each and every spring. It will always come back healthy and happy and this makes it perfect for desert landscaping. It is not a tiny shrub, it will grow to be anywhere between 3 and 4 feet high with a width of about 2 feet. This is a lovely plant to use in your desert landscaping as it is not only beautiful with its pretty blue flower clusters and silver foliage, it is also very fragrant. Autumn Joy is a wonderful perennial that you can plant for your desert landscaping. With this choice you will have great leaves in pretty whorls. These leaves can be any number of different colors and can be bought to go with any desert landscaping design. This plant is the ultimate for desert landscaping because it can grow in rock gardens with ease. This lovely desert landscaping plant also has a unique and interesting flower unlike any other I have ever seen. These small flowers grow in clusters and they can be a few different colors and shades. The most common are yellow, orange and red and pink. If you plant these in your garden you will have butterflies around all of the time and they make for lovely entertainment on their own. Of course, you also plant other type of desert plants such as aloes, periwinkles and several types of heathers. Make a visit to your local gardening store for further information on what type of plants you can add to your desert landscaping project. Drought-resistant plants compliment dry rock landscaping well. The native southwestern plants are generally sun-loving and water-wise. Careful research will reveal low maintenance and low water use plants perfect for this type of landscape. Many of the cactus varieties are good choices, as are juniper, lamb’s ear, and other perennial plants that can withstand year after year with little water. So, if you have a desert landscape that needs something done with it, use a bit of creativity and do some research in order to transform it. Do not let the climate and heat stop you from enjoying your landscape as it can be overlooked.
UN Appeals For More Trees
January 23rd, 2010 Rick The UN has launched a campaign to plant a billion new trees, which is being welcomed by environmentalists, but with a warning by some that in certain regions it could do more harm than good.
While the campaign claims that each tree uses up 26 pounds of co2 emissions and in return produces enough oxygen for a family of four, planting the right trees is important to help the world improve her ecological and environment balance.
In areas that historically have suffered from a lack of rain, and in areas where global warming could potentially produce deserts, new trees that use a lot of water could have a serious affect on their biodiversity.
Eucalyptus trees can consume two thousand litres of water a day, and planting new ones in Africa would be a catalyst to disaster, and local campaigners for planting trees are urged to consider their area needs and decide carefully before deciding on which type of tree to plant.
As well as individuals planting a tree, it is hoped that businesses will do the same and encourage employees to do the same, with government and civil servants also being asked to take active participation to reach the target of a billion trees by the end of this year.
The patron of the campaign is Prince Albert of Monaco. Prince Albert has been campaigning for the environment since becoming Monaco’s Sovereign two years ago, and one of his first acts was to sign the Kyoto Protocol. Previously, along with Australia and the USA, Monaco was one of a handful of countries not to ratify the treaty.
Prince Albert’s father, Prince Rainier, was Europe’s longest reigning Monarch until his death in April 2005. Known affectionately as the ‘builder prince’ he transformed Monaco into the world’s favourite tax haven and ensured the Monaco Grand Prix became one of the best known annual sporting events. The Principality Albert succeeded to was a country known throughout the world for money and glamour, and the Monte Carlo casino only added to its legendary status.
Albert has continued in his father’s footsteps with a plan to develop an island off Monte Carlo, and like his father with the reclaimed land in Fontvieille the map of Monaco will change again.
In keeping with his stance on the environment, it is thought that a successful bid to build the island will need to be seen to be environmentally friendly, with the possibility of lower rise buildings than some parts of Monaco have endured to create more living space.
Monte Carlo has long been associated with glamour, heightened throughout the world in 1956 when Prince Albert’s father married his mother, US actress Grace Kelly.
Speculation was rife earlier this year that Prince Albert would be announcing his own engagement to South African swimmer Charlene Wittstock.
‘Things have gone quiet recently on the Charlene front’, comment a Monaco travel guide, ‘Monaco is all about glitz and glamour and perhaps a surprise announcement will be made soon. But it’s possible that Albert is more interested in environmental affairs than affairs of the heart’.
Monaco has been making the news recently as Monte Carlo real estate prices have escalated, and are on a level with London and New York.
Even the cheapest studios are edging towards the million Euro level according to Monaco property specialists.
‘Increasing taxes elsewhere in Europe, especially in the UK, have seen inquiries increase significantly over the last twelve months,’ they say, ‘and it’s not the weather in Monte Carlo that’s drawing buyers, but the income tax free status of being a resident, and the security that goes with living in Monaco. There’s one policeman for every one hundred residents and has to be the safest country to live in Europe’.
How to Admire Christmas Trees
January 22nd, 2010 Rick Near at hand, we all can see charming plants. Every time I gait the city parks, or call the country trait, I gape the leaves that I oppose bringing back memories of ecstatic ranking climbing, pergola camping in the forest, long walks with my people, climbing with contacts or just relaxing underneath a ranking’s brushwood enjoying the breeze. Although my yard was never big enough, I managed to as a kid to encourage my parents to yard leaves inside its boundary and whenever I hint their stalk I get excited shrewd that they would not have been there if I did not insist on depositing them. Trees are large, permanent, timbered plants, which resume emergent until they die. They grow just about everywhere on Earth, from extremist cold regions near the Arctic and the Antarctic to hot tropical regions around the equator and even in deserts and the most diverse populations of grass are found in the tropical mizzle forests. In comparison to other plant forms, plants are considered long-lived. As perpetual plants, they are classified as having a clear, self-supporting core stem, or stem, containing a forested tissue that produces lesser limbs and twigs. Their height and solitary foremost stem differentiate them from bushes, which are mostly shorter and have many stems. With more than 20,000 types of leaves growing around the world, a few species can grow actually tall, like redwoods and eucalyptus the extent heights of more than 110 m. (360 ft. ). Trees live wherever from a few, to thousands of days, like the olive ranking or a bristlecone languish growing in California’s White Mountains that has been dated as at slightest 4700 being old. Trees do come in a spacious kind of shapes and sizes and can be separated into six vital groups according to the features they have in universal. These are: broadleaf foliage, needleleaf foliage, palm and pandanus and lily plants, cycad leaves, hierarchy ferns, and ginkgo leaves. All the above groups have provided us with food, fibers, medicines, and many other substances helpful in every day life. If you are asked what outcome you can greet from leaves, covert is the one that quickest comes to thoughts. Since dated period, people have worn forest to make tooling and make buildings as well as for forms of art and expression. Most importantly, coppice has also been used as a trace of fuel. Furthermore, trees in the world’s forests or plantations give food and shelter for humans and wildlife. Trees afford us with fruits, nuts, roots and other tree parts which we use to feed ourselves. Tropical fruit trees are among the most standard and embrace avocados, grapefruits, mangoes, and oranges. Cooler, measured regions have fewer kinds of fruit trees, but create immense amounts of apples, cherries, and peaches. Almonds, pecans, walnuts, and macadamia nuts are a few simply recognized species of nut producing trees. The most important nut treed of cheerful regions is the coconut palm, which produces coconuts. Trees also equip chocolate, coffee, maple syrup, and such spices as cinnamon. Finally, trees also have a character in conservation. Along lakes and rivers tree roots keep soil, property top soil in place, and water, land water in the ground. Where they grow in open country, they act as windbreaks and keep the encircle from blowing away earth, therefore aiding in stopping desertification.
History Of Olive Trees
January 20th, 2010 Rick Olive trees, ‘Olea europaea,’ are the oldest fruit trees and certainly are one of the most important fruit trees in history. Olive tree culture has been closely connected to the rise and fall of Mediterranean empires and other advanced civilizations throughout the ages. Because olive trees offered wealth and future food supplies to established civilizations, the agricultural nations became stable societies, resulting from a secure expectation from past experience of an uninterrupted food and olive oil supply. This factor was a necessary requirement for population growth and increase. Dependable fruit production and olive oil production means that olive trees must exist in a stable society and a peaceful environment. That stability must extend for many years, since most ancient seedling olive trees required eight or more years before ever producing the first crop of fruit. Productive orchards of olive trees meant that a foundation of the great empires of Greece and Rome had arisen and developed into complex economic and political forces. It is interesting to note that the historical decline of these empires corresponded to the destruction of their olive tree orchards that reduced the available supplies of olives, olive oil, olive wood, and olive soap. In connection with the destruction of olive orchards, it is interesting to note that in the Israeli wars with Palestine, 50,000 olive trees were destroyed by Israeli bulldozers. That act of agricultural destruction resulted in considerable anger and unrest along the Gaza strip and the West Bank, because the economic livelihood of many Palestinian farmers depended on their products from the uprooted olive trees. Additionally, the olive tree was historically a ‘peace and goodwill’ symbol, and when the olive trees were leveled near the city of Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus and the “Cradle of Biblical History,” that elimination of olive trees seemed like a deliberate provocation to end the ‘peace’ with the Palestinian settlers and farmers.
The Greeks recognized that in their vast empire they must avoid hostilities and war during the period that the Olympic Games were being conducted, and they declared a worldwide armistice so that their complete attention could be directed toward their athletic events and games.
Medical properties of olive oil were reported by many ancient Greek writers and philosophers, their importance in creating nutritional benefits and wealth for Greek citizens continues abundantly today–some Greek olive tree orchards containing a million or more trees. Aristotle wrote extensively about the accepted methods of successfully growing olive trees.
Greek mythology records that Athena, the Goddess of wisdom and peace, struck her magic spear into the Earth, and it turned into an olive tree, thus, the location where the olive tree appeared and grew was named Athens, Greece, in honor of the Goddess, Athena. Local legend tells us that the original olive tree still stands growing after many centuries at the ancient sacred site. Citizens still claim that all Greek olive trees originated from rooted cuttings that were grown from that original olive tree. Homer claimed in his writings that the ancient olive tree growing in Athens was already 10,000 years old. Homer stated that Greek courts sentenced people to death if they destroyed an olive tree. In 775 BC Olympia, Greece, at the site of the ancient Olympic stadium, athletes competed and trained, and winners were triumphantly acclaimed and crowned with a wreath made of olive twigs. Ancient gold coins that were minted in Athens depicted the face of the Goddess, Athena, wearing an olive leaf wreath on her helmet holding a clay vessel of olive oil. The Greeks began olive cultivation in 700 BC. The sacred lamp that was used in ancient Greek culture for lighting dark rooms at night was fueled by olive oil. Aged olive oil was also used in sacred anointing rituals of the church at weddings and at baptisms. Herodotus wrote in 500 BC, that the growing and exporting of olives and olive oil were so sacred that only virgins and eunuchs were allowed to cultivate orchards of olive trees. The first documented plantings of olive trees may have occurred during the Minoan civilization on the island of Crete and are believed to have been growing around 3500 BC. That civilization predates the discovered Mycenae olive fossils from 1600 BC and later in the Greek empire. Sturt Manning, an archeologist from Cornell University, reported in Live Science Magazine (Apr 28, 2005) that the most devastating volcano in 10,000 years occurred on the Greek Island of Thera, after which the city of Akrotiri was totally buried by the falling ash. The finding of olive wood and olive seed fossils buried near the site has shown through carbon dating that the volcanic eruption occurred between 1660 and 1600 BC and may have contributed to the total destruction of the advanced Minoan civilization (Atlantis) on the isle of Crete and may have led to the formation of the Sahara desert in North Africa after vaporizing the native forests there.
In the Old Testament of the Hebrew Bible (Gen 8:11), Noah was given an olive branch by a dove after the great flood as a symbol of peace and love of God, which it remains today. In the book of Exodus, Moses explains that God expected olive oil to be used in various rituals that were performed by priests of Israel. Olive oil was used as an anointing oil to be poured over the heads of Kings and priests that acknowledged their authority as an agent of God. Many other references to olives are given in the Bible. Psalms 52:8 “But I am like the green olive tree in the house of God, I trust in the steadfast love of God forever and ever. ” Finally, Jesus was to spend his last day praying at the mount of olives garden of Gethsemane, in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. Jesus was arrested there, tried, convicted, crucified and later ascended to heaven, after his resurrection from the tomb.
Impressionist artists were stunned by the antique age and beauty of olive trees and their productiveness that resulted in masterpiece paintings by Van Gogh, Cezanne, Renoir, and Matisse. The world’s great Biblical reporters, literary writers, and poets immortalized the olive tree, such people as Jesus, Milton, Shakespeare, and Lord Byron.
Thomas Jefferson wrote “The olive tree is the richest gift of heaven. ” The U. S. Department of Homeland Security has reported “Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, who traveled abroad, brought plant material such as olive trees and rice back to the U. S. to develop United States agricultural production. ” Thomas Jefferson was the U. S. ambassador to France during the Revolutionary War, and he began to import olive trees and seeds into the southern U. S. The excessive humidity of South Carolina and Georgia did not allow profitable olive tree orchards to develop properly in those areas. Jefferson wrote “The greatest service which can be rendered to any country is to add a useful plant to its culture. ” He ranked his introduction of the olive tree and dry rice into South Carolina as two of his top lifetime achievements. Thomas Jefferson wrote to James Ronaldson on January 13, 1813, “it is now twenty-five years since I sent them (southern planters) two shipments of about 500 plants of the olive tree of Aix, the finest olive trees in the world. ”
The fragrant flowers of olive trees are small and creamy white, hidden within the thick leaves. Some cultivars will self pollinate, but others will not. The blossoms usually begin appearing in April and can continue for many months. A wild, seedling olive tree normally begins to flower and produce fruit at the age of 8 years. The fruit of the olive tree is a purplish-black when completely ripe, but a few cultivars are green when ripe and some olives turn a color of copper-brown. The size of the olive fruit is variable, even on the same tree, and the shape ranges from round to oval with pointed ends. Some olives can be eaten fresh after sun-drying and the taste is sweet, but most olive cultivars are bitter and must be treated by various chemical solutions before developing into edible olives. If the olives are thinned on the limbs of the trees to 2 or 3 per twig, the ultimate size of the olives will be much larger. The fruit is gathered in mid October and should be processed as soon as possible to prevent fermentation and a decline in quality.
The leaves of olive trees are gray-green and are replaced at 2-3 year intervals during the spring after new growth appears. Pruning yearly and severely is very important to insure continued production. The trees have the unproductive limbs removed, “so that it will be more fruitful” John 15:2. An olive tree can grow to 50 feet with a limb spread of 30 feet, but most growers will keep the tree pruned to 20 feet to assure maximum production. New sprouts and trees will emerge from the olive tree stump roots, even if the trees are cut down. Some olive trees are believed to be over a thousand years old, and most will live to the ripe old age of 500 years.
Olives generally are beaten off trees with poles, harvested mechanically or by shaking the fruit from the trees onto canvas. Most ripening olives are removed from the trees after the majority of the fruit begins to change in color. It is important to squeeze out the olive oil within a day after harvesting or else fermentation or decline in flavor and quality will occur. The olive oil can be consumed or used in cooking immediately after its collection from the press. Olive oils are unique and distinct, each brand of olive oil having its own character, as determined by many factors, like those unique flavor differences found in fine wines. Prepared commercial olive oils can vary greatly in aroma, fruit flavor; whether the taste is, flowery, nutty, delicate, or mild, and the coloring of olive oil is quite variable.
Olive oil produces many health benefits when used in cooking or when poured over salads. The use of olive oil can improve digestion and can benefit heart metabolism through its low content of cholesterol. Experts claim that olive oil consumption will cause a person to grow shiny hair, prevent dandruff, prevent wrinkles, prevent dry skin and acne, strengthen nails, stop muscle aching, lower blood pressure and cancel out the effects of alcohol.
Olive trees can survive droughts and strong winds, and they grow well on well drained soils up to a pH of 8. 5 and the trees can tolerate salt water conditions. In Europe, olive trees are normally fertilized every other year with an organic fertilizer. Alternate bearing can be avoided by heavy pruning and generally the trees respond to this very quickly and favorably.
Olive trees should be purchased that have been vegetatively propagated or grafted, because the seed grown trees will revert to a wild type that yields small olives with an insipid taste. Olive trees are more resistant to diseases and insects than any other Fruit Tree and, therefore, are sprayed less than any other crop.
The Romans conquered Greece in 146 BC, and the victors took olive secrets to Rome, but since then Greece has remained the greatest exporter of olive oil during the centuries. The olive tree seems to be perfectly adapted for growing in the mild climate of the Mediterranean countries. The trees grow well in dry areas with mild winters and long hot summers, even enduring drought conditions or high winds. The European area of the Mediterranean produces 98% of the world olive oil supply. Olive seed are believed to have been brought to California in 1769 to grow into trees hardy to 12 degrees Fahrenheit. Those olive trees were cultivated in the Franciscan Spanish monasteries.
Even though commercial production of olives in the United States is only 2% of the world market, great interest in growing olives throughout the South has been stimulated by the recent introduction of promising cold hardy olive trees from European hybridizers. Many European immigrants to the United States grow their own olive trees in large pots, that can be moved in and out of the house during seasonal changes.