I ♥ Orangedale

Photo by Thomas Schmied

Photo by Lisa E White

December brings the ripening of the citrus of Scottsdale, originally called Orangedale because of the many citrus groves.  The Arcadia and Lafayette neighborhoods have built luxury homes inside of these old groves, keeping many of the trees. The trunks are painted white in order to protect them from sunburn, much like we wear zinc oxide on our nose.  Naturally, orange tree branches grow to the ground, providing shade for the trunk, but when pruned, the trunk needs sun protection.   Oranges remind me of Christmas, not just because they ripen now, but because of stories told by my mother of her childhood.  Growing up in Oregon, she only got oranges at Christmas time.  One would be waiting for her Christmas morning in the toe of her Christmas stocking.  Santa must have gotten these sweet treats by stopping in Scottsdale before going to Oregon.