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I have three avocado trees.  The youngest one is a Hass avocado tree positioned on the left border of this photo.   This avocado tree is in front of  a 2 in 1 species cherry tree.   The second oldest one is the Bacon avocado tree located against the back fence to the right corner of the yard.  The oldest one is my Mexicola Grande avocado tree seen at the top right corner closest to the viewer on the right border.

This is my Mexicola Grande avocado tree, approximately 20 years of age.  It has been prunned back extensively or else it would have been 35 feet tall by now. Its fruit is a glossy black skinned oval shape with a nutty taste. It is the hardiest of the group able to withstand the Salinas winter frost cycle.  This tree is about my son’s age and when Sam was three or four years of age, he took a small ax from the garage and began to chop the tree down.  The scars remain to this day.

My bacon avocado tree (shown above) is about 10 years of age and produces a creamy , juicy meat which is not as flavorful in my opinion. It was positioned there to block off the music that was played by my neighbors in the back who loved outdoor parties.  They have since moved. Sometimes one’s artistry in designing a garden has less than intrinsic rationale.

This is my third Hass avocado tree (shown below) because the previous two could not withstand the short Salinas winter frost cycle.   I have constructed a plywood canopy over the tree during the frost cycle to protect the tree from the frost which travels vertically downwards (notice the three 2×4′s which hold up the canopy) . Whatever not covered by the plywood gets frost bittened.  This tree was 10 feet tall when the frost hit it without the canopy.  It was reduced to 2 feet (by the frostbite) before I devised the canopy concept and what is seen is a second growing season. This is the prima dona of the three trees.  I expect two fruits this season.  I have been pruning back the fruit to allow the tree to become stronger.

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