Almost all of the trees sold are grafted to any nurseries oor store you go to. That means all of them are fruit bearing trees. And one of the main attraction why you buy a citrus are flowers or immature fruits that are hanging on their sides. And your question is how old are before you can eat theiir fruit? As soon as they are ripe that's the answer. And that's where your love for that plant comes out. Because you would be taking care of that baby just like a baby and you would be thinking a lot of things how you can make it happy. and you are sad if it is sick and yo are so happy if it is healthy. And you would be asking a lot more questions. And that's all the beauty of them all. If you are successful.

here has been a nasty winter with winds ans snow and below zero temps. mixed with some sunny cold days. When it's at it's worst the birds come in flocks and they eat almost everything, I have several cage suet trays and another tub of suet mix on a platform. Even the towhees and juncos and a few of the doves eat suet and suet mixes. I don't get many sparrows but they try the suet too. I rarely se a finch on the suet tray. the woodpeckers and the pesky starlings show up too. The sunny days most stay away but must be close by cause the next bad day they are back in numbers.

Tree Sparrows are not cavity nesters and will not harm anything. So if you saw Tree Sparrows, you need not worry. Is it possible that you meant to say you saw House Sparrows? What did these birds look like? If they had a gray head and a black mask, they are House Sparrows and you should put up a sparrow spooker as soon as possible. Sounds like you're doing a great job so far! When you have time, please check out sialis.org. Here is a link to the sparrow spooker page in case you need it. Here is a link that might be useful: sparrow spooker page

David, I understand anyone's dilemma of choosing their method for controlling hosp. My decision for how I would deal with hosp was actually made easier by the hosp themselves. I will never forget the image of 6 BB babies, dead, on the ground under their nestbox in my front yard (the event that plunged me into this wonderful world of bluebirding). Add to that the many horror stories and graphic pics that I have since heard/seen while visiting sites such as this, and the observations of their increase in population and moving into what previously was "hosp-free territory". I don't think that my method of disposal will ever be non-traumatic or easy for me. It is extremely difficult...every single time. But, when I find that I am questioning myself as to "is this the right thing to do", I just remember the image of my 6 BB babies. I believe that, unfortunately, controlling hosp is an ugly side to what I feel is my responsibility to these birds. (I, too, liked the idea of donating for a good cause. Could not find any takers in my area.) Good luck in your search for options and in making your decision.