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1. Every Friday post a photo that includes one or more flowers.
2. Please only post photos you have authority to use.
3. Include a link to this blog in your post - http://floralfridayfoto.blogspot.com/
4. Leave the link to your FloralFridayFoto post below on inlinkz.
5. Visit other blogs listed ... comment & enjoy!

When to Post:
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Thursday 25 August 2016

FFF249 - ALMOND BLOSSOM

The almond (Prunus dulcis, syn. Prunus amygdalus) is a species of tree in the Rosaceae family, native to the Middle East, the Indian Subcontinent and North Africa. "Almond" is also the name of the edible and widely cultivated seed of this tree. Within the genus Prunus, it is classified with the peach in the subgenus Amygdalus, distinguished from the other subgenera by the corrugated shell (endocarp) surrounding the seed.

The fruit of the almond is a drupe, consisting of an outer hull and a hard shell with the seed, which is not a true nut, inside. Shelling almonds refers to removing the shell to reveal the seed. Almonds are sold shelled or unshelled. Blanched almonds are shelled almonds that have been treated with hot water to soften the seedcoat, which is then removed to reveal the white embryo.

The almond is a deciduous tree, growing 4–10 m in height, with a trunk of up to 30 cm  in diameter. The young twigs are green at first, becoming purplish where exposed to sunlight, then grey in their second year. The leaves are 5 -10 long, with a serrated margin and a 2.5 cm petiole.

The flowers are white to pale pink, 3–5 cm diameter with five petals, produced singly or in pairs and appearing before the leaves in late winter to early spring. Almond grows best in Mediterranean climates with warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. The optimal temperature for their growth is between 15 and 30 °C and the tree buds have a chilling requirement of 300 to 600 hours below 7.2 °C to break dormancy.  Almonds begin bearing an economic crop in the third year after planting. Trees reach full bearing five to six years after planting. The fruit matures in the autumn, 7–8 months after flowering.

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22 comments:

  1. Almond trees are so beautiful. I have seen many in Spain. The almonds taste great, with a glas of wine! Cheers! Groetjes Hetty

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  2. love your shot :) A beautiful flower :)

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  3. The almond blossom is so beautiful and sign of promise (because they're the first flowers to bloom) that I showed a painting at my previous blog, but I have to admit in real life it's had to tell the difference between the cheery -and almond blossom.

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  4. sorry, has to be "cherry"

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  5. I've never seen an almond tree in bloom. I understand the trees require quite a bit of water.

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  6. Such a Beauty! I've never seen them for real ...
    Have a great day ... Frauke

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  7. The Almond Blossom is gorgeous Nick. Love that pretty blu background of a sky also.

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  8. Heisann.... wonderful almond blooming!

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  9. Love your shot Nick.
    The almond blossom is so beautiful..

    Have a great day...
    Elke
    --------------------
    https://promocia.wordpress.com/

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  10. Nick, beautiful blossom. Thanks for sharing.

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  11. Beautiful! Have never seen one, but it reminds me of cherry blossoms.

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  12. Beautiful blossoms !!
    Greetings

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  13. Lovely pic!
    Thanks for Hosting and Have a Lovely Weekend

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  14. I had no idea almonds grew from such pretty flowering trees! Thanks for hosting.

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  15. I'm new at the floral project and sorry... I'm late...
    I like the FFF!
    Wonderful Almondblossoms!

    Have a great sunday! Best, Maje

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  16. Wonderful photo of this herald of spring!

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  17. Great Foto! So wonderful Almondblossoms in Spring. I have Fallblossoms now for the time in Europa.
    Have a great weekend!
    Ingrid

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