Had slivered almonds this evening with my Ben and Gerry’s ice-cream, for my son’s 7th.Birthday. Love you Johnny, and I love almonds, and always have done. They kinda go with so many things, trout, yogurt, chocolate, honey, and ice-cream. Eat three a day they say, and you never get cancer. Was in, Morocco, in 1999. Went to this beautiful coastal town on the west, just down from Tangier, called Asilah. The Berber people on their donkeys came down from the mountains, with carts full of almonds, tipping then in the street, to sell by the sack. The smell of mint and spices, heady. Some things you never forget.
The almond (Prunus dulcis, syn. Prunus amygdalus Batsch., Amygdalus communis L., Amygdalus dulcis Mill.), is a species of tree native to the Middle East and South Asia. Almond is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree. Within the genus Prunus, it is classified with the peach in the subgenus Amygdalus, distinguished from the other subgenera by the corrugated shell (endocarp) surrounding the seed.The fruit of the almond is not a true nut, but a drupe, consisting of an outer hull and a hard shell with the seed (“nut”) inside. Shelling almonds refers to removing the shell to reveal the seed. Almonds are commonly sold shelled (i.e., after the shells are removed), or unshelled (i.e., with the shells still attached). Blanched almonds are shelled almonds that have been treated with hot water to soften the seedcoat, which is then removed to reveal the white embryo.The almond is a small deciduous tree, growing 4–10 metres (13–33 ft) in height, with a trunk of up to 30 centimetres (12 in) in diameter. The young twigs are green at first, becoming purplish where exposed to sunlight, then grey in their second year. The leaves are 3–5 inches long, with a serrated margin and a 2.5 cm (1 in) petiole. The flowers are white or pale pink, 3–5 cm (1–2 in) diameter with five petals, produced singly or in pairs before the leaves in early spring.
Almonds begin bearing an economic crop in the third year after planting. Trees reach full bearing after five to six years after planting. The fruit is mature in the autumn, 7–8 months after flowering.
Hi Onagh. I received an e-mail from The Resource Center about organic gardening courses but cannot open the attachment. Can you please send me info. Especially anything on at weekends.
regards
Anna
Yes organic gardening course starting next week the 5th.March. mornings 10–12
Evenings 6–8pm. Callura Lahinch. you can ring me at 0876877890, thanks Oonagh
Hi Onagh. I received an e-mail from The Resource Center about organic gardening courses but cannot open the attachment. Can you please send me info. Especially anything on at weekends.
regards
Anna
Hi Anna,
Yes organic gardening course starting next week the 5th.March. mornings 10–12
Evenings 6–8pm. Callura Lahinch. you can ring me at 0876877890, thanks Oonagh