# My neighbor's lemon tree .

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-lemon-tree/932810>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Tags:** food-cooking\
**Created:** [February 13, 2021, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-lemon-tree/932810 "2021-02-13T02:35:03Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Showing post:** 26

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**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\
**Post date:** [February 13, 2021, 10:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/my-neighbors-lemon-tree/932810/26 "2021-02-13T22:47:00Z")

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> [@Chronos](#):
>
> But is the tree very pretty? And how do the flowers smell?

> [@naita](#):
>
> Is that relevant now that we know the fruit of the poor tree is quite possible to eat?

Yes, it’s relevant to me. This tree is right outside my back door, and I tend to keep my doors open when the weather is nice. So I get to look at the tree and flowers and smell them throughout my apartment.

> [@solost](#):
>
> Uh, what’s up with the steel spikes?

> [@MrDibble](#):
>
> I think Senegoid may be using humour to describe thorns.

Just barely! These javelin-like projections are better described as spikes than thorns. “Javelin-like” may describe them even better still. See pic below.

> [@solost](#):
>
> Lemon trees have thorns?

> [@romansperson](#):
>
> Most citrus trees have thorns, . . .

> [@Ulfreida](#):
>
> The old Meyer lemons have wicked wicked thorns.

No shit Sherlock! See close-up pic, from [this web page on lemon tree thorns](https://www.garden.eco/do-lemon-trees-have-thorns):

[![](https://www.garden.eco/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/do-lemon-trees-have-thorns.jpg) ](https://www.garden.eco/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/do-lemon-trees-have-thorns.jpg)

> [@Ulfreida](#):
>
> I grew up with Meyer lemons, always had a tree. They are a very common backyard shrubby tree in many parts of California.

This tree here is a full tree, not shrubby at all. It is taller than the adjacent one-story apartments. It needs to be trimmed regularly when the branches grow over the roof, otherwise they will scrape and damage the shingles. The lower branches over the walkway need to be cut away too, lest an unobservant pedestrian bump into one and the javelin-thorns put an eye out. Seriously, this is a hazard.

> [@needscoffee](#):
>
> I’ve never had a Meyer lemon that was better than either a plain lemon or orange. I found them quite disappointing. They were less lemony than a lemon, but without any real orange-ness to make up for it.

These are mildly sour and moderately sweet, and good for eating. They are definitely lemonish and not at all orangish beyond the general citrus flavor that all citrus have.

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