Just had to do it

That was a three level Almendra and if you are familiar with that kind of Mexican Almond tree you know what I mean by three levels. It was almost up to my incoming electric and up against the wall if I didn't keep cutting. Main problem with against he wall was ants like Almendras and they would go up the wall rather than climb the truck of the tree.

The other thing is Almendras are extremely dirty trees and are constantly dropping fruit and leaves.  I've been paying a neighbor to help keep it clean but I'm lucky if they come over once a week and it really needed every other day.

The final problem was local kids like the Almonds and if they were not climbing the tree they were hitting. it with sticks or rocks. Kids falling 3 meters onto the cement sidewalk is not something I need. Then they have to mash them with rocks on my sidewalk to get to the nut.  Tons or work, makes a huge mess and stains my sidewalk purple .... and then they might draw on the wall.

Just called my neighbor Juan with a chain saw and it took him 20 minutes including cutting it up on the ground. BTW .... these Almonds are nothing like North of the Border Almonds I'm used to

No mas Almendra 

Mushrooms, the pool, shrimp, watts and politics

But I'm gonna start with politics .......

Steve posted on his Blog about some poll/quiz you can take to tell you who to vote for or at least which candidate you lean toward. I'm not gonna take the "Test" because I know it's Bernie or Hillary for me but afraid Hillary is too middle of the road. 

Political discussions are going drive me nuts this coming year with people claiming Libertarian, Green, Independent or Constitution Parties leanings. I mean there are two parties in this country unless super nut-ball Donald Trump runs Independent. All these "alternative" candidates are running Republican and they are all certified nut cases. There's one wing-nut in Steve's conversation that still likes to throw around words like Commies and Socialism like they mean the end of the world. I get MSNBC News, Bill Maher, Bernie, Robert Reich on Facebook and besides a comment about the latest GOP WingNut that's the extent of political discussion for me.

Actually a fungi rather than a mushroom

There is no street water today so it's buckets of water out to the plants/trees in front of the house. Plus cleaning up the mess from the extremely dirty Almendra/Almond tree. That's when I noticed this mushroom/hongo growing behind the little palm. First of it's kind I've seen.

This past weekend we had a pool and shrimp party and a very relaxing afternoon. The girls are over 3-4 times a week with this warm weather and summer vacation. The shrimp are one size down from large and are 160 pesos a kilo or about $10us

Camarones Al Mojo De Ajo - Garlic Shrimp - Yum

I dug out this little meter I bought on Amazon a few years ago because my neighbors electric bill has been higher than normal. I'm noting the Watts and Amps used on my various appliances and will later compare with theirs. I kinda suspect their refrigerator that is not that old but still is rebuilt. My electric is never real high so I had little reason to use the meter.

My poor Almond tree

Leaf cutter ants don´t often bother almond (almendra) trees but last night they did. I thought rain sends them in hiding but it rained all night and it didn't slow them down a bit. In the dry season the homes of these ants are pretty easy to find but now the weeds (sacate) are high. I wondered why they went to the top of the tree but then realized that is where all the tender new growth is. Gonna have to get out there with a flashlight tonight but if it's raining the normal powder won't work.

Maybe I'll have to resort to using them as protein.

Atta species are a popular ingredient in Mexican cuisine, particularly in the southern states such as Chiapas, Guerrero, Hidalgo, Puebla and Veracruz. It is considered a delicacy, as well as a food of high protein content, therefore it is often served as a main dish, not as garnish, despite its small portions. They may be eaten as the sole filling in tacos. The Atta (a leaf cutter ant species), the type of ant most eaten in Mexico, has a nutty flavor.

Almond tree from my roof

What to look for in the dry season

On a lighter note

Two of the three Neem trees I've planted on the Plaza

My new fruit trees

Well the almond tree (almendra or almendro) is not exactly new since I've had it for about 6 months. The winds from hurricane Jova knocked it over and I replanted it a little deeper. Many almendra trees went down during the hurricane. Now that the storms have passed there is a new threat ... the neighborhood kids. The tree is planted just outside my sidewalk on the street to eventually shade the house. This morning the kids were beating at it with a stick. Why they would want to do that I have no idea ... but who knows what goes thru the mind of a 5 year old.

The foto below is not mine but an example of what mine might be someday. You can almost see the layering (levels) of the branches. I always thought you had to "Bonsai" trim them ... but that's the way they grow.

So that got me thinking that I just bought 3 more trees last week at a great vivero (nursery) up the coast in Emiliano Zapata. Huge place and really worth a stop if you pass that way. The three are; Carambola (carambolo) or star fruit, Chico Zapote and a coastal Avocado (aquacate).

I had the idea that a Chico Zapote would be a small to medium sized tree but as you can see below they can get huge. Gonna take some trimming. The Carambola looks just right and I love the fruit when it's fresh. I wasn't paying attention when I planted the Avocado and put it in the wrong place. It's now in transplant shock so I hope it survives.

Almendra (almond) tree

Carambolo (star fruit) tree

Huge Chico Zapote tree