We have been a bit lazy the last couple of days. Doing lots of reading, sitting outside to enjoy the warm fresh air, writing and playing music, painting, and taking the occasional stroll. We have begun to take nighttime walks on the golf course cart paths. They are unlighted, but we have our cell phone lights if necessary. The stars are amazing and no one else walks out there! Daytime walks have been around our resort and they provide some interesting things to look at.
This afternoon we decided to visit a local tourist attraction, Shields’ Dates. This date farm, roadside stand, and cafe have been in the same place since 1924. We watched the introductory video: The Romance and Sex Lives of The Date. Then we spent a short while in their gardens.
Of course we bought some dates to attempt to duplicate the marvelous date/bacon skewers we had a Arnold Palmer’s the other night. We’ll let you know how they turn out!
Where ever you go in the Coachella Valley the mountains watch over you.
Not sure what tomorrow will bring.
Good night!
Paul
Travels With Picasso 
I would not call reading and walking at night being lazy! Not sure why dates do not self pollinate? I doubt that dates in North Africa and Middle East have to go through pollination by human intervention; I would have thought divine intervention to suffice.
A big hug to you guys. JP
JP,
Dates do pollinate with wind and insects, but the results are largely due to the proximity of male trees to female trees. If a male tree is close enough this natural pollination can occur, but it is inefficient. However, humans have been assisting this process for a few thousand years. Another interesting fact is that dates do not grow true from seed. The tree that results will grow different fruits and each generation becomes less date-like. Therefore, propagation of good tasting dates is from rooting and transplanting the shoots that come from the base of thee tree. These grow clones that produce the same fruit as the parent tree.
Paul
I am so enjoying your trip! Thank you.