Orange blossoms

I love the sweet smell of citrus blossoms this time of year! We're still picking oranges, grapefruit, and lemons while enjoying the fragrance of the flowers that will become next year's tasty fruit.

Two common misconceptions about citrus:

1. They don't cause allergies. People assume that they do, because allergies begin to flare when citrus is in the air, but it's not the citrus that is to blame. Generally, allergies are caused by wind-born pollens, and there are lots of those spreading their allergic cheer this time of year. The pollen in citrus and other bee-pollinated flowers is too large and heavy to float around in the air where it can be inhaled and cause trouble.

2. It's not necessary to pick the old fruit in order for new fruit to set. You can leave the fruit on the tree as long as it tastes good, and it won't interfere with new fruit formation.