Suzi please keep us posted!! Pistachios are amazing. I know they are quite picky about where they can thrive even in native climate in Iran. They are so beautiful though when the nuts are turning coloring... greens, yellows, reds... Eating them not only roasted, but alo fresh is quite a treat. I would love to hear how different varieties end up doing for you. I understand the commercial variety grown in CA is Kerman which sounds like is a seedling from Kerman, Iran. Commercial pistachios from CA are a few notches below the ones in Iran in quality but I think one of the differences is not just in the nut quality but also in the roasting technique. I would try to learn as much as I could about roasting/seasoning them too if I could grow them as I think that is big factor in the end product. I would grow them in a heartbeat if I lived in a nice climate like yours. If you go to a local Persian supermarket, they may have the pistachios often sold by weight you can scoop up and will have em separated from different parts of the world including California and Iran to see the differences in seasoning/roasting.

kmcg85 - omigosh, that floor mirror IS stunning and would be lovely but for two things, the $700 price tag and the 75 pound dog that would chase her ball into the room and run headfirst into the mirror. :) teacats - good point on the gold in the painting. The candleholders look better in the picture than they do in person and may not stay in the room. My bronzes will likely go in there though. justgotabeme had mentioned gold METAL and there isn't much of that around at all. Shiny brass doorknobs that are going are all I can think of. My rug for the sitting area should be here on Saturday. I am in love with it on the computer. Hopefully I will love it in person. :) And I just walked out into the garage and saw the black cabinet we used to have the TV on in the library. I think it might work in the sitting space for now. There are a couple of coffee tables on craigslist I'm going to go look at today. I am getting antsy. I hate having to wait for men with muscles to be here to move the big furniture back into place. Wah!

I like the idea of everyone serving themselves whenever they feel like it. I may start that tradition here. LOL at your dh. He must have been might hungry and the food must have been mighty good. Linda

Of course! In fact, breaking the main growing point is often a technique used to encourage them to sprout other branches. They are vigorous trees, figs. No worries.