Thirteen years ago, my grandfather Bernard at the age of 75, stepped on a chair to reach for a light bulb in our garage that needed to be changed. Granny lost his balance and fell on the concrete ground, head first. He survived the fall but Granny had to go through two brain surgeries. He stayed in the ICU for almost six months, There were times when we thought he would die.

My Uncle Lester, who lives in Florida , was discouraged by the lack of fruit on his grapefruit tree. Someone told him he needed to whack the trunk of the tree a few times with a board.

Apparently, there is some truth to this unusual method of encouraging growth. One gardening expert says” “At times, the flowering hormone in the tree seems to get stuck and no flowers appear. Carefully persuade the tree to flower by shocking it. Hit the trunk…several times, (which will cause) small bruises in the bark.” This advice may stimulate growth.