Five evenings in a row I have waded through our yard in bare feet, stopped before one of our two overburdened fruit trees, and plucked plumped-up plums or peaches from the branches. I eat as if standing over a sink, bent at the waist and legs spread, letting the sun-warmed juice pour out of the wounds I make in the fruit’s flesh and drip into the summer-thick grass. A peach stain on a T-shirt can mark it for life, but in this desert the grass is greedy for moisture.
While the plum tree has been in business since long before we bought our house, the peach is a new addition, tucked into the ground just three years ago. The woman at the garden center instructed us to nip off all infant fruits for several years so the tree could settle. I would not have obeyed, but the decision was made for us. Until this summer it withheld its treasures from us, choosing instead to grow and spread. And this year, like a gift, it is heavy with peaches, small and sweet and beautiful.
We have more, though, than our twin trees, all flourishing in turn, overlapping their seasons so we always have something fresh and delicious from last frost to first snow. The sugar snaps this spring grew fat on their vines as the tomato plants rooted and flowered. And when the peas withered and died in the summer heat, the tomatoes took over, the plants filling with engorged red orbs.
In July the tiny green globes on our neighbor’s apricot tree, which graciously spans into our backyard, swelled into sweet orange fruits, just waiting for my hands to pluck and eat, one after the other. And eat I did, pulling the fruits from the sun-dappled branches overhead, closing my eyes as the flavor burst on my tongue.
The apricots have long since ceased production and the last of the peaches went to my parents last night. Soon our plum tree will be free of fruit, the bounty shared with friends and family and neighbors, but the first of our cucumbers is now begging to be picked. This evening we will have salads in celebration.
Some people own stoic mansions hidden behind sweeping gates; swimming pools brimming with cool, blue water; low, shiny sports cars that hug the curves in the road at any speed. But a garden and fruit trees are, to me, the greatest of luxuries.
Hooray for summer gardening. I love it. I am glad to hear that the fruit from your trees is tasty. For some reason, when I was growing up, our peach tree never produced very tasty peaches. If you ever feel over-burdened with cucumbers, PLEASE give me a call! They are my favorites!
I. Am So. Jealous.
Do you ever have enough to can/dry/save? I always want to do that with our lemons–make marmalade or something–but the process of canning always holds me back.
My, my, this post made me hungry! And was very inspirational as well. Bruce and I moved into a new place three years ago and now, this year, we are planning our garden. So far, blueberry bushes and tomatoes, two of our favorites (that will grow well in our climate/back yard).
I have to go have lunch.
Katie, our peaches were delicious, but I’ve never been able to produce a yummy green pepper and I think you said you could, so we can consider ourselves even. And if I have extra cucumbers, which I often do, you’re welcome to them. Want some plums, too?
Pam, I never have done any canning or drying, although I probably should attempt it sometime. It just seems like a lot of work. I’ve tried to find some good recipes to use my plums in, and haven’t been impressed so far. But if we ever have as many peaches as we do plums, I’m definitely going to make jam or pie or something with them. And since I’ll only attempt jam if I have tons and tons of peaches, I’ll be giving jars of the stuff away. You know, if you want one… (Hey, I’m part Italian. I feed people. What can I say?)
Enjoy your lunch, Conda! And good luck with your garden. I’m so jealous of your blueberry bushes. Berries don’t grow well around here, or we’d have plenty of those, too.
Yum!
Your post made me miss some of our old homes… especially our home in Italy.
Your bounty sounds fantastic! I’ve been tempted to give canning a try, but starting with tomato sauce since it’s acidic enough to not need the pressure canning steps.
I don’t know how well plums would freeze, but frozen peaches would make great smoothies mid-winter. Apricots do dry really well, so that might be worth trying if you have enough extras.
We planted tomato’s again this year and they are JUST now bearing lovely fruit. For some reason, my hubs planted a cayenne pepper plant and we have no idea what to do with them! *G* You’re making me want a fruit tree! Enjoy all of summer’s bounty. Fall will be here soon.
I can almost taste those peaches! Lucky you!
Oh, Angela! I bet you had some amazing food in Italy. I can just imagine.
Jenifer, I didn’t know that about tomatoes. That’s good to know. We don’t have as many this year since I planted fewer tomato plants, but maybe next year I’ll go back to my usual number. As for apricots, I wanted to do something with them but ran out of time. They had just started to ripen when we left for California, and I just couldn’t take on such a major project then. Next year, maybe.
Enjoy your tomatoes, Brandy! Not much beats the taste of a garden-fresh tomato. And, yes, I am very much in favor of fruit trees. They aren’t too expensive, either. Plus you know how safe the fruit is. We, for example, don’t use any pesticides, and we can’t get the same guarantee at the grocery store.
Cam, I just love peach season. You must have some good ones available in your grocery store, at least.
Wow, that post was so beautifully written I felt like I could actually taste that peach!
And you’re right– a garden is a wonderful thing to have-