Thank you for sharing Evan - !!!!!

Thank Evan, interesting, also looks like a grove of date palm trees in the background.

George, no problem!

John, I'm pretty sure that's what they're for, either that or to keep ruffians like me out once the trees start producing fruit! If I see one of the ranch hands working out there I'll go ask him.

Silica that's correct, there are date palms next to and behind this grove and on the other side there is vineyards. Lots of agriculture out here in the desert. It always surprises me how much we grow out here. As I drive along on highway 111 there are bell pepper fields, carrots, jalapeños and artichokes in the winter that are grown out here and of course miles and miles of citrus groves.

Evan

The desert will grow almost anything, if it has water.

That's prime date palm growing land so I'm surprised at the citrus there. Silica, there are many date palm groves on the 111, East of the Salton Sea. There is a great little store that sells date shakes and fresh dates as well. I would stop in for some medjools for my Mom when driving that way.

Beautiful panoramic views, Evan! It is good to see people are turning desert in to a green oasis. Thanks for sharing!

Thanks for sharing! Cool to see a baby orchard!

Thanks for sharing Evan. I remember when I lived in FL and drove through central FL along the turnpike....the smell of orange blossoms was heavenly! Enjoy!!

That's a mighty big investment. Sure hope greening doesn't become a problem out there.

With the extremely high summer temperatures in the Sulton Sea area, I think the Asian Citrus psyllids would have a hard time surviving the summers. Psyllids have a 100 percent death rate at temperatures of 114-F or higher. They might do OK during the winter season, but come summer they would be killed

Silica, thank you. I do remember reading somewhere that the ACP has difficulty or dies at high temperatures... but I do not remember the temperature nor dwell. I also remember reading that HLB can be beaten back at high [118F ???] temperatures. ??

Can you share your source(s) on that info / related information - and if you have any suggestions on direction / places to research- - I would like to look into this further. thank you!

- George

George, I don't remember all the various sources of information, as I read a lot of them. However, here is a very creditable source for you to begin.

https://oup.silverchair-cdn.com/oup/backfile/Content_public/Journal/aesa/107/3/10.1603_AN13169/1/aesa107-0641.pdf?Expires=1502487895&Signature=FKWhJwrchM8AnNtc6a~jFsMYhIxL3Fz-YGj3hAR7W6IKg-sm6qx1-QyUrEeGnxKyBhgRlIzJ7cZPtUZquuhhzlx3Le0QhPzDWmIkJ5oYj-znEiTio3jWgq1puJgn1OyI6ijaxQH0wcVTHTupEbYmnINO2qAMSsDZyxR25cVHj6kCEZvkFBOF~-wDd66pmSHKWubk7-cKU4Ci1fKQyvj-ZYVlmbq82kP0T~dBlXW-lDqTeH11zY5CiO40BQ8~nFyzBVBZg-vkyGPeXwx2s06zyjcbFG5zLj8iFnrNeFMUv2BvRALSdA-yvTNAbGTvr4oS1hrBO5lcE0m8elxN9Q1C8A__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAIUCZBIA4LVPAVW3Q

The University of Florida is another site to look.

Great thread and pics Evan. Have noticed some really large citrus groves down that stretch of highway. Can never tell what they are either because it's always late March when my travels take me out that way.

Silica: that is encouraging to hear! At least citrus can be grown somewhere -- as long as water is supplied.

They must use a lot of water in the desert. I don't want to know how much! Date Palms make a lot of sense.

There is lots of irrigation around that sea. Aside from being built on an old salt mine, that sea receives all the runoff from the surrounding farmlands and the chemicals and salts contribute even more toward the seas salinity. Grapes are grown on the west side of the sea, and South is where much of our winter crops come from. They grow all kinds of stuff down near Brawley.

fireball, - just curious - is the irrigation from well water, recycled... or other source? I heard that Palm Springs has plenty of water in the aquifer below it, but most of the water used there is from the Colorado River [?].

Dave, it is definitely a big risk for the farmers out here planting new groves. But all things considered this a small grove compared to some farms that are massive! It takes 5-10 minutes to drive past some of them going 60 mph on the highway that's how large they are.

George, I found some of the research that silica was referring to above, enjoy!

http://www.crec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/trade_journals/2015/2015_August_thermo.pdf

Also to answer yours, Daves and melikeeatplants question about the water, most farms out here are getting their water from the All American Canal it runs along the North side of the Salton Sea and through the Coachella Valley and is fed from the Colorado River. Some farms have wells, most near the Salton Sea don't use well water though because of its brackish nature due to its proximity to the sea.

Thanks PKG, glad you enjoyed the pics.

Hey Laura, I know what you mean about the orange blossom smell in the spring, it is definitely fantastic.

sunshine and kcandmilo not a problem, I will try and get back to the same grove and keep this thread updated as it matures.

Evan

Go Gators! Glad they're doing good research to help our beloved citrus. I'm going to visit the Swamp next week...first time since I graduated many years ago. I hope to see some orange groves on my drive up there from Orlando.