We have had a long history with the mild winter lilacs that will bloom in Southern California (and other similar areas) whereas most colder climate varieties will not. Here is a brief history.

For those who are interested - here is where La Feliciana Peach came from and why it is still of importance to us and you.

This monstrous sized pear is not as well known as some of the other Asian Pears. But well liked by those familiar with it.

Here is another installment written by Bob Ludekens on where some of the trees came from that L.E. Cooke Co introduced.

Panache Fig - also commonly called Tiger Fig - is one of those surprisingly delightful finds in the fruit world. A delight to the eye with its colorful striped appearance and a delight to the taste buds for its wonderful taste. For the first time since we started growing them several years ago, we have not sold out in the first week of the sales season. We ramped up production and still have some available both as bareroot and in the 5"x5" pots for our retailers to get this coming season. So if you got tired of waiting for them in past years, now is the time to book some for this coming year. Click link for more description.

Hot off the press- latest Availability List.

Hot off the Press - Latest Availability list

Blueberry Grape (seedless) was obviously a big hit with the crowd at the fruit tasting Saturday in Tulare. Especially with the kids who kept coming back for more - snatching whole bunches at a time. They are ripe right now and will continue to be for some time.

I think this is one of the most exciting introductions the L.E. Cooke Co has made in years, And it appears to handle a wide range of climates from the mild winters in La Jolla to cold of Utah and humidity of Florida. Fast, vigorous growing vine that sets early crops.
http://www.lecooke.com/…/praise-for-blueberry-and-venus-gra…

Saturday some of our staff had the fun (and I mean "fun" literally) to participate in a fruit tasting session at The Gardens at California Turf Equipment in Tulare, CA. Well over 100 people had the chance to sample fruit ripe this week from our budwood orchards. We love hearing their comments and excitement. After all, nothing tastes better that fruit picked fresh off the trees. Note the Blueberry Grape in the first photo: we should have brought a lot more - kids were squealing with delight over them. We will make a few more posts to share comments on different varieties.

On Saturday May 20, Bob Ludekens was honored to be inducted into the Green Industry Hall of Fame along with 5 other tremendously talented and passionate leaders of this incredible industry. Thank you to Karen Watts for the presentation. Many more thanks to those who came from far and wide to share in this moment. Held at the Black and Gold Golf Club in Yorba Linda, CA.

I have always been on my 3 week sales trip to Texas when the early season Brooks and Tulare Cherries ripened and I always missed them. Missed eating and photographing them. This year I started my sales trip a week early and the cooler (and thankfully wetter) West coast climate has made the crops 1-2 weeks later. So today I got to see for my first time the Brooks Cherries and will go back out tomorrow to check on the Tulare. Tonight my wife and I will get to feast on some Brooks. Ron Ludekens

This question will come up a lot this new sales season, so here is the scoop. By the way, we still have about 3,000 Sequoia Strawberries in cold storage and they ship easily and cheaply by UPS.

A look down Bob Ludekens' driveway with budwood orchard on each side. Cooke's Purple Wisteria lines the entire length of the south side (right) and brighter pink of the Rubye Atkinson Redbud on the left. Honey Bees were having a feast on both.