Saturday, July 2, 2011

Oranges

Our orange tree is full of ripe oranges, with new little green ones coming in and needing space. Being the kind of person who has trouble growing weeds, I don't question this. I just thank the universe and pick the oranges. These oranges are juicy and goo-ood. Two-syllable good.

Some people can take 'em or leave 'em.

Other people only leave 'em when they're interrupted by predato--uh, larger people. But it's okay. We have enough.

23 comments:

dive said...

Oh, lordy, I am SO jealous!
Those look truly delicious, Petrea.
And a nice contrast with yesterday's green post.

Shell Sherree said...

They do look magnificent. A bit of a challenge for paws to unwrap, but it's a nice problem to have.

Petrea Burchard said...

Little teeny squirrel paws seem to have no trouble, Shell. Some people don't like squirrels but I don't mind them.

Dive, around here even people who can't grow weeds can grow citrus. I'd send you a bushel but I don't think they'd fare well in the crossing.

John Sandel said...

That dog puts the cur in scurvy.

Bellis said...

Until you revealed it was squirrels, I was convinced you had elves in your garden. Pity that after all that careful peeling, they didn't even like it.

Being able to pop into the garden for oranges and lemons is one of the joys of California living, isn't it?

Petrea Burchard said...

He's a good cur. Poo. I don't have a pun at the moment.

It is, Bellis. Though we pop into the driveway for lemons, to pick the ones hanging over from the neighbors' yard. Fair game, I say.

Ms M said...

The oranges look so good! I also enjoy Boz's reaction to the offering of this strange treat.
The squirrels here will eat oranges. A few years ago, squirrels ate all the small pumpkins I had out on the step for decoration. (I caught one "orange-handed" on the porch roof).

Anonymous said...

Mmmm, mmmm, good.

(Albert steals the peel from the compost.)

Petrea Burchard said...

The squirrels here are fat from eating the oranges. I think someone was caught before I took that picture and will probably come back for it.

Albert is an omnivore. I love that about Albert. His coat is shiny for this reason.

Speedway said...

So real oranges come off the trees with bumps? Our climate doesn't allow for citrus trees, so my oranges come from the grocer all smooth and uniform. I am jealous.

My turtle likes oranges. Her shell is nice and shiny,too.

Petrea Burchard said...

Speedway, I just ate one off the tree and it was still warm from the sun.

pasadenapio said...

Your street is ripe all over! The Centell/Washatka plum tree is overflowing, and the Public Affairs Office and City Clerk's Office staff here at City Hall are reaping the benefit! Perhaps Linda and Ed would swap out a bag or two with you.

Katie said...

What a beautiful bag of oranges! I hope they're nice and sweet. I bet the scent of orange blossoms from your tree when it's in bloom is amazing.

Pasadena Adjacent said...

My harvest was six peaches the size of marbles. Even the squirrels passed them by

Petrea Burchard said...

Ann, I tried to sell Linda some oranges, but no dice. She's got an orange tree, too.

Katie, you're right about the scent. It makes picking them a pleasure.

PA, that sounds like my clementine tree last year. This year I fed it organic fertilizer and we're going to have a bonanza.

TheChieftess said...

Love fresh citrus off the tree!!! One thing I learned when I was looking for a lemon tree to plant in our yard in Glendale, even the nurseries only have the hybrid lemons...if you've got an old lemon tree with the thin skins...guard it with your life!!! They're sweeter, juicier, and the best ever...the ones you get now are "bred" with thicker skins, and just don't have the good flavor of the old ones!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

I didn't know that, Chieftess. Thanks for the good advice. I was thinking of planting a lemon.

Susan Campisi said...

I could go for one of those oranges right now, but I'm too hot and lazy to get off my couch to go pick one. And, I don't have an orange tree. Maybe I'll pick one on my evening walk around the neighborhood.

Steven said...

My favorite fruit is the orange. No word in the English language rhymes with orange. I think a California orange tastes better than a Florida orange.

Speedway said...

I googled "how to grow lemon tree" and found you might be able to get your own good, thin-skinned lemon tree by either growing sprouts from seeds or grafting a bit of the "good" tree to another tree. This info came from the New Mexico State Univ (link follows). It would take about 15 years to get lemons from the seedlings, 5 years to grow them from the grafted tree.

http://aces.nmsu.edu/ces/yard/2000/040800.html

TheChieftess said...

And well worth the wait!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

Susan, I figure any fruit hanging over public property (like the sidewalk) is fair game.

I'm with you on the California bit, Steven, though I admit I'm biased. The California ones are fresher, at least for me.

Speedway, you're like some kind of genius. But seeing as how my recent attempt to transplant a weed was an utter failure, I'm not yet ready to graduate to grafting.

Chieftess, I'll bet I can find an old-fashioned lemon tree somewhere. You've made it clear I've got to get one!

TheChieftess said...

Go for it Petrea!!!