Wednesday, August 31, 2011

Mangos Mangos Everwhere!

Like apples (Granny Smith, Delicious, Macintosh, Fuji, etc) there are many, many different kinds of mangos. 
Karanambu has over 20 mango trees right on the compound. Diane’s father planted them, two by two, like a Noah’s Ark of Mangos. Some don’t even have names, only numbers. 
Whenever you ask Diane, “Which is the best mango”?  She will frequently answer, “It all depends on what you want to do with it? Are you going to cook with it, or make juice or eat it just so?”

 
It also depends on the time of year.  The trees bear at different times, so the search for the perfect mango can be a daily adventure!
We are coming to the end of the season now.  Hardly one in sight…but a few weeks ago, there were endless mangos


And not only the humans enjoy the mangos, the tyras and aqouiti were feasting under the trees.  The parrots, yellow headed, orange winged and amazons noisily feasting in the treetops.  Oreopendulas, even the king fishers joined in the feast


Our mangos were late this year, so when we still had plenty; we were getting visitors coming to “collect” their share.


The whole compound smelled of fermenting mangos.  Under the trees the ground was covered with half eaten, rotting fermenting mangos. Hard to believe it was a challenge to use them all up.
We miss them already…but some of the trees are starting to put out new leaves so the blossoms should not be far behind.