Dummet Groves Center of Citrus Universe

On the bike trip, I went through Merritt Island and stopped by the sign that gave the history of the Dummett Grove. The sign did not say that the Dummet Grove had the only oranges that survived the early 1800's freeze that killed all of Florida's citrus. Salt water froze in lagoons.

The industry was wiped out in North Florida and did not return. It had been a thriving industry. Mandarin, south of Jacksonville, is named for a type of orange and was an orange growing area before it became part of Jacksonville's sprawl.

The ruby red grapefruit that I have harvested for my guests the last two weeks survived the freeze four years ago that killed the oranges grafted to it. It was called a fruit cocktail tree with grafted oranges, limes and grapefruit. Only the latter lasted.