Ginormous Mango Trees

[bubba]

 Several years ago, I posted pictures of this Ginormous Mango Bango. Please be advised that the annual Mango Wars have commenced. Should you see a group of 14-year-olds on bicycles holding bags, take cover or you will be looking for your mango encrusted tweezers. Be cautious of parties on corners selling " fresh mangoes" for a dollar a pop. Should Aunt Dorothy offer you a fresh slice of mango pie, be certain to count your digits after you consume this proposed treat:

[bubba]

 These suckers are so big that you can barely see the Bangoes:

[bubba]

 Looking up, you can barely see the sweeties:

[Tracy]

10 hours ago, bubba said:

Should you see a group of 14-year-olds on bicycles holding bags, take cover or you will be looking for your mango encrusted tweezers. Be cautious of parties on corners selling " fresh mangoes" for a dollar a pop. Should Aunt Dorothy offer you a fresh slice of mango pie, be certain to count your digits after you consume this proposed treat:

???

[Funkthulhu]

10 hours ago, Tracy said:

???

I think the tree makes lots of fruit?  And there are opportunistic peoples trying to make a buck or chucking them at innocent bystanders like giant eggs?  

Uh, yeah I got no idea.

[bubba]

I apologize for the somewhat vague analogies described in this post. Mangoes are so ubiquitous in South Florida commencing now through the summer that they In no way constitute currency. Virtually everyone in this area need walk only 10 to 15 yards to grab 10 to 15 mangoes.

This results in the youthful adventure known as the "Mango Wars". This results from the fact that most 14-year-olds, when given the opportunity, have the tendency to pick up and throw the object ( said mango) at whatever they deem appropriate. Therefore, it is always a good thing to carry your mango encrusted tweezers (see Frank Zappa). The reference regarding parties on the corner selling mangoes for a dollar a pop, is really meant to be a warning to any non-local that rolls into the area without an understanding that they only need to look under their shoe to locate an edible mango. Why pay the dollar?

 The "Aunt Dorothy" reference is also local, dealing with a self proclaimed witch. Her alleged method of operation was to lure targets into her domain with candies, freshly baked pastries and other novelties (a slice of mango pie). Once in her domain, she revealed troubling incisors and proceeded to bite her guests. Rumors circulated that she had rabies. There is no hard evidence of her existence.

 The Mango Trees are Ginormous for this area but the Hawaiian and Australian Mango Trees previously posted in response to the South Florida phenom several years ago were substantially larger. I certainly hope that Palm Talk posters post as many Mango Trees in their area as possible in this thread.

 

 

[Cindy Adair]

Oh I  take up your challenge for big mango tree photos! Most of them here are so big that the fruit smashes upon impact and unless you are extremely quick and lucky you can't get unblemished fruit.

However I have some small grafted trees in pots (planting them soon!) to provide easier to grab fruit in the future.

Here is one sheltering some seedlings awaiting proper planting. Note my hat for scale.

Below is some fruit but way to high to reach.

Below is an even bigger tree but up a very steep hill and no easy way to denote size. Let's just say it makes the one in the previous photo seem small.

 

[bubba]

Thank you Cindy! That's what I am talking about. Flipping Ginormous PR style!

[PalmWarbler]

You don't need to just worry about kids throwing them at you, I have a big tree in the yard that was planted in '54 and if you walk under it this time of the year you run the risk of getting bombed. I would not want to get nailed by one from the top!

When I'm working in the yard it's a constant "thud", one after the other when the fruit hit the ground.

[Funkthulhu]

22 hours ago, bubba said:

I apologize for the somewhat vague analogies described in this post. Mangoes are so ubiquitous in South Florida commencing now through the summer that they In no way constitute currency. Virtually everyone in this area need walk only 10 to 15 yards to grab 10 to 15 mangoes.

This results in the youthful adventure known as the "Mango Wars". This results from the fact that most 14-year-olds, when given the opportunity, have the tendency to pick up and throw the object ( said mango) at whatever they deem appropriate. Therefore, it is always a good thing to carry your mango encrusted tweezers (see Frank Zappa). The reference regarding parties on the corner selling mangoes for a dollar a pop, is really meant to be a warning to any non-local that rolls into the area without an understanding that they only need to look under their shoe to locate an edible mango. Why pay the dollar?

 The "Aunt Dorothy" reference is also local, dealing with a self proclaimed witch. Her alleged method of operation was to lure targets into her domain with candies, freshly baked pastries and other novelties (a slice of mango pie). Once in her domain, she revealed troubling incisors and proceeded to bite her guests. Rumors circulated that she had rabies. There is no hard evidence of her existence.

 The Mango Trees are Ginormous for this area but the Hawaiian and Australian Mango Trees previously posted in response to the South Florida phenom several years ago were substantially larger. I certainly hope that Palm Talk posters post as many Mango Trees in their area as possible in this thread.

 

 

I think every town has an "Aunt Dorothy" story about the rabid and cannibalistic elderly....  

[Matthew92]

Some of my family went to Hawaii in 2016 and took pictures of a huge Mango tree at the National Tropical Botanical Garden (On the Big Island of Hawaii I think).

[bubba]

Huge! Thanks for posting.  I hope others post from all areas without necessity of genormisity.

[Patrick]

On 6/1/2017, 8:14:52, Opal92 said:

Some of my family went to Hawaii in 2016 and took pictures of a huge Mango tree at the National Tropical Botanical Garden (On the Big Island of Hawaii I think).

Thank you for posting this Opal! I was thinking of exactly these trees But I have no photos. I think they must be 80-100' tall. Massive! along with the Monkeypods and Cebiosa there- HUGE! I know, I know; pictures or gtfo....

 

On one trip we had the pleasure (?) of visiting the garden while the fruit was ripe and falling off the tree. I was told that the trees are so old the fruit is no longer good for eating- too small or whatever happens when the trees get too old. Thankfully the gardens installed a sort of shed/ overhang system to protect visitors from falling mangos. Well, one mango decided to fall on the corrigated steel roof of the particular shed we were walking under; from 80' up! I practically had to change my shorts. Scared the devil out of me! The noise gave me the worst scare I've had in years

[bubba]

Bangoes?

[Tracy]

On 5/31/2017, 11:11:41, bubba said:

I certainly hope that Palm Talk posters post as many Mango Trees in their area as possible in this thread.

Thank you for the background information on Mango trees in Florida.  They aren't as common here in Southern California.  I have a young small Alfonso Mango I've dropped into my backyard.  It's in the middle of the frame in the background of this photo, but you can't miss it as it is the only "tree" among palms, cycads, puya and succulents in the shot.

[bubba]

Tracy,

Greatly appreciate the pictures. I know that mangoes are grown commercially out in the desert or at least were. I am certain that large mangoes do exist in the numerous California microclimates.Please post more!

[Tracy]

2 hours ago, bubba said:

I know that mangoes are grown commercially out in the desert or at least were

Most of the mangoes in the markets here are from Mexico.  I don't often see them at our local Farmer's Market, but I was inspired to grow them from a friend and neighbor who runs the local farmers markets here in Encinitas and Carlsbad.  He has a small Mango tree in his back yard, as well as many other fruit trees, so I decided to try one as well.  Also growing Papaya, Banana, Guava and Surinam Cherry, but none of those will be as spectacular as trees as the Mango trees you and others have posted.

[Tracy]

On 6/8/2017, 7:09:04, bubba said:

I know that mangoes are grown commercially out in the desert or at least were.

I had never heard about mangoes grown commercially in the desert until you mentioned it.  Coincidentally, I was flipping through the LA Times this morning, and saw an Obituary for Howard Marguleas, "Who introduced Hawaiian pineapples to the mainland and grew mangoes in the desert".  His obit, told of how he was inspired to try growing mangoes in Coachella Valley after visiting the Dead Sea area of Israel, and observing how they were growing them in the desert.  The article wasn't clear if his commercial fruit growing and distribution business continues to grow them, but at one time his business (Sun World) had 300 acres of Mangoes growing in Coachella Valley.  I guess all it takes is plenty of water to grow heat loving plants in the desert!