At least eight years ago but probably ten we planted an Avocado seedling my Grandfather started from seed. I really had no expectations that it would grow but it has survived all these years.
About three years ago it had considerable freeze damage and I pruned it way back. Sometimes the closer you are to the less you see. As many times as I walk under this tree to let the littlest chicken out of her coop it took a visit from my brother to discover that this year there is a copious amount of fruit beginning to develop.
I am not sure which variety of avocado we have I believe it is a Fuerte (Gwen) having seen a few mature fruit in the past. Last year there were two fruit on the tree one of which was knocked down prematurely by the wind. The other one ripened and I made some great guacamole with it. In the previous five or so years there were none.
Avocados are strange reproducers. There is an “A” list of trees and a “B” list of trees. You need one of each in a given area to have a successful pollination. On top of all that the trees flowers have two phases. The avocado exhibits a type of flowering behavior known as "synchronous dichogamy". An individual flower will be open for 2 days, however the timing of the male and female phases are distinct. When the flower first opens it is in the female phase and the stigma is receptive to pollen. At the end of the female phase, which lasts 2 to 4 hours, the flower will close. On the second day the same flower re-opens in the male phase and sheds its pollen. See figures for illustration of the female and male phase flowers. You can read more of the colorful details here.
The success of this years pollination is undoubtedly due to the hard work of our honey bees!
When it comes to trees just plant them. I know at first it seems like they will never grow but as you march through the life you have been given on your way to death and the judgment those trees are slowly and constantly growing. You will look back at the time that had flown by and the trees will remind you it has not all just been a dream.
And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die. And the LORD God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.
(Genesis 2:16-18)
And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment: So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.
(Hebrews 9:27-28)
