Excitement ensued when we found a Butternut in the yard. Last year's early crop disappeared, possibly victim to Common Grackles who are known to attack immature fruit.
This one has a wee hole in one end, perhaps invaded by a smaller creature, but we'll cure it a bit before opening. If one nut is around, there surely are more so we'll keep our nose to the ground.
An unripe, pea-sized Persimmon fell to the ground. (Lethally astringent at this stage, I bet!) They're so high in the canopy, we rarely see them anymore so it was fun to find this one.
Sweetbay Magnolia seeds are forming.
Volunteer Snowberries have popped up in the front yard.
(Ahh... snow.)
O snapped a squatter in a bird's nest box behind the house.
Very few of our nest boxes hold the intended critters: owls in raccoon boxes, woodpeckers in owl boxes, wrens in bluebird boxes, etc.
It's a Red Squirrel!
In the garden, cukes continue to produce, here and there, every few days, just about right for munching. The tomatoes are coming along nicely, too,
grape-type Juliets, small Moskviches, and Cherokee Purples, which we like a lot. A lot.
Oh, Cherokee Purple
with shoulders of green
you make this hot summer
seem not quite so mean
Your flesh, it is perfect
your scent is divine
You hang so enticingly
there on your vine
You grew from a seed that
I planted myself
now you're oh, so much better
than those on the shelf
I would dare not cook you
'twould be, oh too cruel
nor can you, nor smoosh you
that is my new rule
Oh, Cherokee Purple
it can't be my fault
to bathe you in olive oil
with a pinch of sea salt
9 comments:
Oh my—your tomato ode makes me so desperately jealous, especially of those Cherokee Purples. Heirloom tomatoes are so wonderful…and their first bite makes you realize how awful those red grocery store tennis balls truly taste. Salt and olive oil and nothing more is their perfect dressing.
Oh, Grizz, I did not intend to inspire jealousy! Farmer's markets and even grocery stores stock local heirlooms these days and I hope some have your name on them.
Sorry, but the butternut looks a bit like an old sock.
No sorries, it's furry and sticky, too... but, unlike old socks, it's said to be quite tasty after sitting around a while!
I loved your ode to the Cherokee Purples, Jain, that's how I would eat them too, although my mother made sandwiches with just them and mayo. I haven't seen persimmons growing wild, since I was a child, but I do remember the puckering when eating an unripe one! I also remember your disappointment last year, of not finding any butternuts, can't believe it's been a whole year!
Love the poem! Too fun. And I envy you the garden. You're enjoying the kind of fresh goodies I just love.
The squatter is so funny, especially in light of having all the critters using some other critter's box.
This is the third time checking back...don't see the comment from the first time, so will leave another...I haven't seen wild persimmons since I was a child, but I do remember the 'puckering' if unripe! Butternuts are new to me, I remember your post about them last year though. I have been enjoying fresh tomatoes the same way, Jain!
Wanda, so sorry for the delay in approving comments, it's been a busy weekend. You're my most loyal reader and poster, which I treasure! I can't believe you remember my butternut post from last year! I don't think I've ever seen persimmons in the wild, we planted ours years ago. We rarely get a ripe one, as the critters beat us to them... but that's why we planted them so it's okay.
Jason, the "poem" won't put me in the running for Poet Laureate any time soon, but I was moved to write something beyond "damn, they're good!" Glad you liked it!
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