Bamboo is most often associated with Asian countries and furniture, but bamboo is much more than that. There are many uses for this misunderstood tree, and it those that only expect to find it in use in one part of the world are surprised every day when they find that it is being used every where. Here are seven things you don’t know about bamboo.

1. There are roughly 1,000 different species of bamboo.

2. Bamboo has been observed to grow as fast as 45 inches in one 24-hour time period, though most often it grows at a rate of 2-8 inches a day.

3. Though many cultures use young bamboo shoots in cooking, shoots of the giant bamboo contain measurable cyanide.

4. In many areas of East Asia and Indonesia, bamboo sap from young stalks is often fermented into a local treat of sweet wine.

5. In some areas of the world, the natural strength of bamboo is being used in scaffolding for both construction and maintenance purposes.

6. The main source of food for the enormous giant Panda is bamboo. They are known to eat the stems, leaves and shoots.

7. Carbonized bamboo was used as a filament material in one of Thomas Edison’s earliest incandescent lamps.

In many parts of the world, whole communities rely on bamboo for everything from a food source to a building material, and more. Bamboo is widely cultivated for its versatility, few other plants can be used in the wide amount of ways that bamboo can. Bamboo has earned its place as one of the most well used plants in the world as many people around the world have discovered the benefits that it has to offer.

Avocados are a popular food in many places around the world. Largely grown in tropical regions, the fruit that grows on an avocado tree is actually classified as a berry. Many people eat avocados in many different forms. Here are seven things you don’t know about avocados.

1. The avocado is also known by the name of the butter pear and the alligator pear.

2. Ancient Aztecs often referred to avocados as the “fertility fruit”.

3. The avocado has the highest fiber content of any fruit grown any where.

4. The average avocado tree can produce 110-130 avocados each year.

5. Ninety-five percent of all avocados grown in the United States are grown in the state of California.

6. Approximately three fourths of the calories in an avocado come from fat found naturally in the fruit.

7. Most experts agree that if humans had not interfered and begun cultivating avocado trees centuries ago, the avocado would’ve naturally gone extinct.

Avocados are loved by many, and not just as an ingredient in guacamole. The avocado is an important ingredient in many dishes and will remain popular with people from all walks of life for a long time to come.

Known specifically as a classic summertime food, the watermelon is one of the more popular picnic or family gathering foods around. Coming in a number of different sizes, and available in both seeded and seedless varieties, the watermelon is immediately recognizable due to it’s green skin. Most people are very familiar with watermelons, but here are 7 Things You Don’t Know About: Watermelons.

1. More watermelons are produced in China than in any other country in the world.

2. Many scientists believe that watermelons were first domestically cultivated in the Nile Valley of Africa.

3. In many countries, including China, watermelon rind is used in stir fry, pickled, and also stewed.

4. Because of their short shelf life at the time, watermelons weren’t widely available in grocery stores until the mid 1940′s.

5. Though most classify watermelon as a fruit, the State of Oklahoma named the watermelon as the state’s official vegetable in 2007.

6. To make them easier to stack, some farmers in Japan grow watermelons within clear boxes causing the fruit to grow to fill the space provided and take on a cube-like shape.

7. On average, water makes up 92% of the weight of a watermelon.

Watermelons will be continued to be enjoyed by a large number of people every summer. The sweet juiciness of the watermelon makes it a favorite for young and old alike. One taste and it is easy to see why the watermelon is present at most picnics and family gatherings every summer.