It looks like we might get at least one bowl of cherries off our neighbor's trees this summer. The neighbor in question lives in Britanny, and she comes to Saint-Aignan infrequently these days.
This neighbor's mother lived here, and she herself might have grown up here. Her mother passed away a decade ago. For a while, the neighbor and her partner came here from Brittany and mowed the tall grass in her small orchard, which is adjacent to our yard on the north side. In early autumn, they would come pick fruit, but that stopped years ago too. The last time I saw the neighbor was three or four years ago, and she was alone. She's had other people come and do the annual springtime mowing in the orchard for years now. Nobody picks the fruit, as far as I can tell.
Like other part-time neighbors, she told us when we first met her that we should harvest as much fruit from her trees (cherries, plums, apples, and quinces) as we want. She said she'd rather we pick the fruit — not strangers. So when the cherries finish ripening, I'll go pick some — if the birds don't beat me to them. I might save a few pits and see if I can get them to sprout. Then we could have a cherry tree in our yard.
I won't be picking any grapes (above left). They are red wine grapes, and the vineyard parcel is right next to the little orchard. Above right is a pretty plant that grows in another neighbor's hedge. Nice colors.
This neighbor's mother lived here, and she herself might have grown up here. Her mother passed away a decade ago. For a while, the neighbor and her partner came here from Brittany and mowed the tall grass in her small orchard, which is adjacent to our yard on the north side. In early autumn, they would come pick fruit, but that stopped years ago too. The last time I saw the neighbor was three or four years ago, and she was alone. She's had other people come and do the annual springtime mowing in the orchard for years now. Nobody picks the fruit, as far as I can tell.
Like other part-time neighbors, she told us when we first met her that we should harvest as much fruit from her trees (cherries, plums, apples, and quinces) as we want. She said she'd rather we pick the fruit — not strangers. So when the cherries finish ripening, I'll go pick some — if the birds don't beat me to them. I might save a few pits and see if I can get them to sprout. Then we could have a cherry tree in our yard.
I won't be picking any grapes (above left). They are red wine grapes, and the vineyard parcel is right next to the little orchard. Above right is a pretty plant that grows in another neighbor's hedge. Nice colors.
I hope you get a cherry tree! Those are very nice cherries.
ReplyDeleteThese are cerises acides — sour cherries. They're not so good to eat right off the tree, but they are great for jam, clafoutis, cakes, pies, and sauces.The trees are right next to the plum tree with the delicious yellow plums that we tasted back in 2009.
DeleteOh, I like those colors on that hedge in the neighbor's yard.
ReplyDeleteI do to. I wonder what the plant is. I bet google will know.
DeleteCherry jam is a favorite. Nice to have that abundant fruit so close to you. Wonder how long it would take a cherry tree to grow - are they fast?
ReplyDeleteI hadn't thought about that. They are a rustic cherry variety, so it may not take too long for them to grow and start producing. But time is short, n'est-ce pas?
ReplyDelete