For months now I've been watching the fruit on my Poncirus trifoliata and wondering when it would ever turn from green to yellow/and/or/orange. It finally did, at the same time the leaves changed color.
Sadly the leaves didn't stick around very long this year, darn wind...
Just as well, the tiny oranges made for a great display without the leaves to detract.
However since last weekend's forecast called for above average wind, I decided to remove any fruit that fell easily into my hand when touched. I didn't want to lose them, or have them turn into golf-ball like weapons. I left the few that were still firmly attached, cause I love looking out and seeing them on the tree.
Thankfully the wind let them be, and also didn't strip the neighbor's Sumac, which is coloring up oh so very nicely.
The other neighbor's Cornus (Dogwood) wasn't so lucky, it's almost bare. Most of their leaves (as usual) ended up in my front garden. At least one of them displayed a sense of the dramatic in landing, speared by a Yucca rostrata blade...
So back to the oranges. I'd read they were bitter, but edible. Naturally I had to taste them for myself.
Notice the mess on the knife? According to the website "Eat the Weeds" processing the fruit leaves a "hard-to-wash off resin on utensils"... I can attest that when you bite into the fruit that same thing happens to your teeth.
The taste wasn't all together bad. In fact I squeezed the rest into my sparkling water and enjoyed it ("Eat the Weeds" says a slice is good in a gin-and-tonic, but I am no fan of gin). Other uses for the fruit include a "not-sweet" marmalade and the rind can be candied and dried. I've chosen to go the decorative route...
They smell good and I love looking at them and knowing they grew just outside my front door.
All material © 2009-2016 by Loree Bohl for danger garden. Unauthorized reproduction prohibited and just plain rude.