Hang In There!

 Nagami Kumquat

By this time in the winter season we're all a little over the cold and over the bare branches. Over it, and daydreaming of the spring flowers and budding trees that are just around the corner. Spring always seems like it can't come soon enough when we're getting the planting itch that we are scared to scratch because it's still January. While there are still plenty of winter flowers and dormant trees we can plant in the winter, not to mention all the pruning and prep still left on our to-do lists, we can't help but yearn for warmer weather. Even a warm January is still January and the very mention of the month gives us the shivers.

Thankfully we're still deep in citrus season. 

Tangerine trees at the Las Vegas Library

Winter is when the majority of citrus is in perfect season. It's as if citrus somehow knows that we're on the verge of end-of-season madness so it proudly hangs it's beautiful, brightly colored, tangy fruits from it's branches. Reminding us that there are still some good things left in the middle of winter. Citrus is cheering us on "hang in there!" Literally. It's as if citrus knows that we need those bright oranges and yellows and greens to hold us over until the explosion of color that comes with spring.

So I'd like to say thank you, citrus, for being the beautiful bridge between Winter and Spring.

Here are some great winter citrus varieties:

Rio Red Grapefruit

Moro Blood Orange

Washington Navel Orange

Dancy Mandarin

Nagami Kumquat

Variegated Pink Lemon

And if you want citrus all year, look for some ever bearing varieties:

Eureka Lemon

Meyers Lemon

Mexican Lime

Take a trip over to your neighborhood Star Nursery to learn more!

P.S. What's your favorite citrus fruit?