Thanks for the tour of your orchard. Old apples have such lovely romantic names. Years ago I wrote a magazine story on heirloom apples, which sent me down a rabbit hole exploring old Southern (U.S.) apples. Now I’m jonesing for apple pie even if it’s only July.
Cotehele - a National Trust property in Cornwall - has an orchard with over 50 heritage varieties of apple which we are allowed to pick when ripe. Bees flourish among the wild patches that thread through the garden. Your beautiful words reminded me of it. Plums, pears and greengages from an orchard are prized treasures - if only more people could experience the pleasure that you describe. The exquisite sweet juiciness that bears no relation to the hard, sour things on supermarket shelves - cultivated for their ability to survive being stored for weeks and driven for miles rather than taste.
The assumption that an edible treat is cake, pastries or confectionery, things so ubiquitous and accessible, rather than the privilege of holding a fragrant gift of nature. Untouched by chemicals and available for a fleeting moment in time, revelling in the texture and taste as the flesh and juice floods your mouth and takes over all your senses - that’s a real treat to be treasured. Thanks for guiding us through this estate, the hints of the past, its current bounty and bringing this precious place to life with your beautiful words.
I wasn't intending to read the whole post, but your lyrical poetic writing transported me to your wonderful world of orchards and summer days. Thank you for sharing it to all of us. :)
Such a lovely read Will - thank you. What a wonderful collection of apple trees to pick from. We planted a Winter Gem apple tree in our old orchard here last year (we wanted a late apple that would store well and have exceptional flavour and we thought it would be just the ticket), so it is very encouraging to hear your positive words about it - we’re looking forward to its first harvest here (it may still be a few years from now, but we’re hoping it will be worth the wait).
Bees and an orchard - it's a magical combination!
Thanks for the tour of your orchard. Old apples have such lovely romantic names. Years ago I wrote a magazine story on heirloom apples, which sent me down a rabbit hole exploring old Southern (U.S.) apples. Now I’m jonesing for apple pie even if it’s only July.
That was a nice journey through the orchard - thanks for taking us along...
Cotehele - a National Trust property in Cornwall - has an orchard with over 50 heritage varieties of apple which we are allowed to pick when ripe. Bees flourish among the wild patches that thread through the garden. Your beautiful words reminded me of it. Plums, pears and greengages from an orchard are prized treasures - if only more people could experience the pleasure that you describe. The exquisite sweet juiciness that bears no relation to the hard, sour things on supermarket shelves - cultivated for their ability to survive being stored for weeks and driven for miles rather than taste.
The assumption that an edible treat is cake, pastries or confectionery, things so ubiquitous and accessible, rather than the privilege of holding a fragrant gift of nature. Untouched by chemicals and available for a fleeting moment in time, revelling in the texture and taste as the flesh and juice floods your mouth and takes over all your senses - that’s a real treat to be treasured. Thanks for guiding us through this estate, the hints of the past, its current bounty and bringing this precious place to life with your beautiful words.
I wasn't intending to read the whole post, but your lyrical poetic writing transported me to your wonderful world of orchards and summer days. Thank you for sharing it to all of us. :)
Such a lovely read Will - thank you. What a wonderful collection of apple trees to pick from. We planted a Winter Gem apple tree in our old orchard here last year (we wanted a late apple that would store well and have exceptional flavour and we thought it would be just the ticket), so it is very encouraging to hear your positive words about it - we’re looking forward to its first harvest here (it may still be a few years from now, but we’re hoping it will be worth the wait).
That was very enjoyable. Thank you.