Friday, May 13, 2011

Parade of Color

Apricots are the first of the fruit trees to bloom

An edible landscape provides food not just for the body, but for the soul. The past two weeks have been a non-stop parade of color as the fruit trees and shrubs blossom. First the apricot and service berry bloom first, at the beginning of May, then the quince, clove current, plum, peach, pear and apples follow in quick succession bursting into flower with the exuberance that is spring. After the dormancy of winter, great joy.

The native Amalanchier can be pruned to shrub height
to keep the berries within reach

Amalanchier (serviceberry, Juneberry) is less well known than the other fruit trees. But they're easy to find this time of year, majestic trees in full bloom in woods that are still otherwise bare at the treetops. As a native tree, it requires almost no care. They can be pruned into sizeable shrubs, like this one in our yard, to keep the blueberry-size fruit within reach (assuming one can beat he birds to them!).

One of several quince shrubs in the yard.

Clove currant, like it's name suggests, emits a clove-like fragrance.
Later this summer, it will bear blue-black fruit.

Peach - gorgeous to look at; heavenly to eat.
Need anything more be said?

This is only the second year the pear trees have bloomed;
perhaps this year there will be fruit.

No comments:

Post a Comment