Sounds like a winner. Mine gives about 3 crops a year. When the flowers form, and the bees finish pollinating them, there will be a lot of little "sticks" left hanging on the tree. Don't despair! They will soon show signs of having little bumps that form on the sticks, which will grow, and grow, and produce a green - golf ball shaped hull, filled with a brown nut inside. When this drops from the tree, and usually with a split outer hull, it is time to harvest. I save them until there are enough to dry - I put them in the bottom of my oven (I have a warmer drawer - usually used for bread and bun warming), but the oven on low - with door propped open, could also be used (as for drying fruit, etc.). The macadamia has a reputation for being a hard nut to crack, so I find the drying technique helps considerably to loosen the nut from the wall of the shell (somewhat!). But when I have enough saved up to take the time, I use a hammer, a brick and a pointed knife - find a nice place in the shade of my garden, and crack the nuts. It is difficult to get a whole nut out intact, with that method, but as I will only be using them ground up anyway, it isn't that important. If one were going into the chocolate covered macadamia business, then I would suggest something a bit more sophisticated, a nut cracker perhaps (strong one). When I have finished cracking all that I can, I store them in half pint freezer containers and freeze them until ready for use. When ready to use, I place the amount in a toaster oven and brown slightly, carefully - as they can burn easily. Then grind in my food processor until the right consistency for my recipe. And - that's all there is to it. Macadamias are fun - they like it here. Just my 2 c's. Bejay

I purchased an Aloe Vera from my local nursery, and Im not being impatient, just curious as this is my first succulent. At what size do these guys typically flower? Like i know some plants have to be 5 seasons old in order to flower with a certain amount of foilage to sustain the plant while its weak.

PINCH PINCH PINCH! Everywhere you pinch...2 new shoots will form resulting in twice as many flowers! Usually pinching season starts when they start to leaf out in spring and contiinues until the begining of June. You can pinch now and get flowers in a couple of months. You can propagate whatever you pinch. They flowers on the season's new grawth, that's why pinching is essential. Hope that helps!

It is my understanding that with some plants, the main stem produces male flowers and the branching vines will eventually produce the female flowers. Nothing will set if the temp gets over 90F degrees, and if the female flowers aren't pollinated early in the morning. Temperature will also affect the production of female flowers on a plant. Also try adding a little extra phosphorus and a bit of epsom salts to your watering regimen. Once it starts to get cooler, you should see more female flowers. Don't ever pinch or prune a squash plant's populous vines.