Subtropical Garden in Carmel Valley

I just picked about 25 Satsuma mandarin orange ( Citrus reticulata ) from a dwarf plant today. The plant is only about 3 feet high and 3 feet wide and is laden with fruits on every branch. What a beautiful sight. The golden orange fruits are brightly contrasted with the dark evergreen leaves. The fruits are loose-skinned and easy to peel. It is also seedless. So, it is really convenient to eat out of hand. It is also very flavorful and is not sour at all. In the spring the white blossoms are very fragrant and can be smelled from quite a distance. The satsuma mandarin originated in Japan more than 400 years ago. There are some 100 varieties of satsumas in Japan, about a dozen of which have been released in the United States. You don't often see the Satsuma mandarin in the supermarket, may be due to its limited storage period. It cannot be kept in the refrigerator for months like orange. That is a shame because it is very delicious and so easy to peel and separate the