Dreamland Tea - American Women Through the Ages

What luck to be in town for the annual Women's Tea and Style Show at Dreamland Villa where our friends live! 
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The theme for this tea was "American Women Through The Ages".– There were 9 models and each had two roles.  The models were responsible for their own costumes.  All nicely done and themed. 
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There were two emcees,  which included our friend Cyndy, who did a wonderful slide show of historic women of the US prior to the main program as we were all being seated.  And then during the program for each model she gave a "woman's history"  to include their children, marriage, and health as well as what these famous women were known for.  
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Among the famous Americans represented were Eleanor Roosevelt, Rosa Parks, Sandra Day O'Conner, Helen Keller, Peggy Fleming (in ice skates yet) and of course, Rosie the Riveter. 

Rosie, the Riveter

Amelia Earhart

Shirley Temple

Wonderful company at the tables for 8.  Escorted to our spot by bow-tied/white shirt singing waiters.  It was BYO Tea Cup with nice tea, a lovely light lunch with fresh fruit, chicken salad, cream puffs and theme-wrapped candy. 

The Singing Waiters performing Rosie, The Riveter

Also among the entertainment, were the Singing Waiters who impressed us with a rousing Rosie the Riveter song even with the riveter "brrrrrt".   
Remember the song? Click: Rosie The Riveter .  
One of the dance groups from Dreamland Villa did an energetic patriotic tap. 

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Before we all left, door prizes were given out and two of the 4 men at the tea (including Dean) won a prize.  Dean's is a framed sunset from Overgaard, AZ. 
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The original seating plan for the tea was 150 attendees.  The interest was so immense that the count was expanded to 250!  The funds raised will be used to replace windows in one of the club's buildings.  Great!
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We appreciate the amount of effort put in by all involved.  Very enjoyable!

Flutterbyes

We had a great experience with the butterflies in the rain forest of the Butterfly Wonderland in Scottsdale.  Though we didn't see any humongous butterflies we saw a number with a width of 6-8" – what a thrill. 

There was a 3D movie of the life and times of the Monarch butterfly.  One out of every 3 generations makes a long run down to Mexico.

We went thru double doors to the rain forest to watch the butterflies.  We were told to not touch them but it was ok to have them ride on us and they did.  

There were two trees which must be very sweet as they were covered with butterflies.  

Liked the plates of citrus which attracted many.. 

Almost all of the butterflies in the display are replaced within 2 weeks (we think that means they died?!)

Butterflies in pupae form are sent from butterfly farms in central and south America and Florida.  When they arrive the pupae are hung in an emergence area where they bloom into adult butterflies a few days and are then transported to the rainforest.

Wanna Date?

Ok, anybody who's visited the Palm Springs/Coachella Valley area has visited or plans to visit Shield's Date Garden to have a date shake and see a video about the Sex Life of the Date! 
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In case you haven't had the chance or you've forgotten, here's the skinny:
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A date orchard needs only 1 male to every 48 females.  This palm does not self-pollinate so "artificial insemination" is required with a worker climbing to the top of the palm and spreading male pollen on the female blossoms (I told you this was going to get nasty!)

The Coachella Valley has very fertile soil and crops range from grapes to cotton and citrus to vegetables of all types.  For a time even bananas and pineapples were grown in the Coachella Valley.  Today 95% of the dates in the USA are grown here.

Again, like the navel orange cuttings, the US Department of Agriculture in the late 1800's sent out plant explorers around the world to find new food crops.  Their explorers brought back 400+ date shoots from the Middle East to start the crop in this valley. 
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Today the Middle East is still where most of the world's dates are grown.  The dates are a subsistence crop in that area, but many date groves have been decimated with the wars.
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The US contribution to the date crop worldwide is minimal.  The date orchards here used to span from just south of Palm Springs to the Salton Sea.  Now the area with palms is less than half that.  And why?
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Because the date is the most expensive crop to produce.  A lot of manual effort year-round goes into the date growing and harvest. 
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January – dethorn the fronds for picker protection when they hand pollinate later in the year

February – tree ladders are moved up palms to reach the current top of the tree

Tall ladders

February – March – hand pollination of female date blooms

May-June – thinning for larger fruit

July-August – protective paper covers are put over date bunches to protect from rain and birds

September – December soft dates picked by hand, semi-dry dates are mechanically picked into large bins
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Palm shoots need to grow 5 years before their first crop of about 40 lbs of dates.  When the palm is 10-15 years old each female tree will produce up to 300 lbs of dates per year.

YUMMY!  I'm ready for one of these