Persimmon: The Fruit of the Gods

I was obsessed after my first ever bite of persimmon. It happened yesterday morning. Before that first taste, I had no idea. They aren't commonly available in grocery stores here, and, though persimmon trees grow in the South, I've never known anyone who grew one. But all of that changed after I tasted a sample slice of Fuyu persimmon.

Fuyu persimmons are deliciously sweet. I've analyzed my taste buds and twisted my mind trying to describe the taste. A bit like cantaloupe, combined with peachy, pear flavors. Maybe pumpkin? Unique, for sure! I can understand why the ancient Greeks called persimmon "the fruit of the gods". I bought a basket of Fuyu persimmons, and within a couple of hours I had bought a tree, too!

I've learned there are two kinds of persimmons: astringent and non astringent. The astringent varieties have to be eaten when fully ripe, when the fruit is soft and the interior has a jelly-like consistency. The non astringent varieties, including Fuyu, can be eaten when the fruit has a firm texture as well as when it has softened. My Fuyus are still firm, like an apple. I will have to wait to see if I like them as much once they have softened.

Fuyus can keep at room temperature for several weeks when they are firm. Once they have softened, however, they need to be eaten within a few days. They are very high in Vitamins A and C and are a good source of potassium too.

Fuyu persimmons are beautiful and combined with greenery make great holiday decorations. They are shaped like tomatoes, but they also remind me of little pumpkins. Here's a photo of my basket of Fuyus (missing one I already ate!) and below is a slice showing the pretty interior pattern:The tree will hold its fruit in late autumn, after all its leaves are gone, and a tree laden with the orange globes is an amazing sight. I wonder if my tree someday will be as lovely as this tree in Nakagawa, Nanyo City, Japan:photo courtesy of WikimediaGrowing in popularity, persimmon trees are a low maintenance fruit tree. They need no spraying and little fertilizer, though they do like a fair amount of water. Fuyus will grow in zones 7-9, but different varieties may be found for zone 5, up to zone 10.

By the way, wildlife likes this fruit as much as humans. My tree is large enough to produce persimmons next year. The squirrels and other critters had better leave some for me, or else there will be a battle coming!

A Three Tree Christmas

Some years ago I was feeling grumpy at Christmas time. Bah! Humbug! I just wasn't in the mood. My boys were older and not particularly interested in decorating the house. I felt nobody appreciated my efforts, so why bother? Traditionally we always had a large, fresh Christmas tree loaded with sentimental ornaments. This particular year I decided to buy a small two foot version and put it on a table. I hung a few ornaments on it. That was it. Bah! Humbug!

No one said anything, but I began to feel guilty. Every time I passed that two foot tree, I felt the taunting calls of Christmases past. I finally realized I wanted a big tree, even if no one else cared about it. So I went out and bought a beautiful eight foot tree. Other family members weren't home, so it would be a surprise.

Later that day my husband and sons returned.

"See what we have!" they announced. I laughed when I looked out the front window. For they, too, had brought home a wonderful, tall tree. 

We put the small tree in the kitchen and one of the larger trees outside, where it's white lights warmly welcomed guests driving up our road. We placed the third tree in the customary place of honor in the living room and covered it with lights and ornaments, garlands and icicles, just as we had always done. I loved the way it all looked.

That is the way our three tree tradition started, for ever since we have had a large tree outside, a large tree inside the living room, and a small one in the kitchen. Here are my plans for this year:

A Colorado blue spruce is perishing in our climate, so we will cut this tree from our property and use it for our outdoor tree. Originally it was a living Christmas tree I planted after the holidays, so this will be its second time as a Christmas tree.

For the kitchen I will buy a rosemary tree. I can't wait for the smell!

And this past weekend I bought our tall indoor tree, a fraser fir. Over the years we have had many different types of Christmas trees, and fraser fir is my favorite. Fraser firs are noted for their fabulous smell and long needle retention. A view of fraser fir's long lasting needles.My tree was grown in Plumtree, North Carolina by a family owned business, Trinity Tree Company. The family sells some of their trees in Pelham, Alabama at A Very Merry Christmas Tree Farm, not far from where I live. A Very Merry Christmas Tree Farm sets up this tree lot in Pelham every year.The tree I purchased was cut just the day before. (Talk about fresh: One year, after the holidays Lou tossed one of their trees out into the woods behind our house. The following April he noticed the tree was still green. Upon investigation he discovered the tree stump, covered by leaf mold through the winter, had sprouted roots!)

Amongst all the great trees, this is the one I selected:As this special season begins, may you be safe and warm, and may your heart be filled with true peace and joy.   Deborah