Saturday, June 25, 2011

poppy, cherries, horse chestnut


Posted by PicasaThis poppy has flowered and shed its petals. I am glad I photographed it when I did.

Tunbridge Wells is in the heart of cherry country. This year has been a good season with abundant fruit, but the recent rain after a dry period has swelled many to  a point where they split. At the Farmers' Market I ask at  one of the stalls about the split fruit. "We've had five and a half tons," the young man says. "All wasted ?" I ask rather shocked. "No," he says, "we turn them into juice."  Cherry juice is good for you," I say, "it cures gout." "That's right," he says, " you are a knowledgeable man". I walk off glowing a little, I suppose, but refrain from admitting that I used once used  to suffer from gout.

In a flower bed this afternoon I find an infant horse chestnut tree, and the remains of the conker whence it came. We have seen squirrels in the garden and there is little doubt about the sapling's provenance.

4 comments:

marja-leena said...

And here we have infant hazelnut trees planted by squirrels which I keep pulling out, even from potted plants! Did leave one to grow full size in the garden, but the squirrels get the nuts first.

CC said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
CC said...

Love the thought of Squirrel planted nut
trees. Wish I had a garden then I'd see
these interesting things too.

Lucy said...

Did you cure your gout with cherry juice?