Monday 17 August 2015

Pears.



I love Pears; in fact I would say that they're certainly up there amongst my favourite fruits. There is nothing nicer than a fully ripe, juicy Pear.

They're in season here, and I've been out scrumping. My own Pears are not yet ripe so I'm taking early morning walks that just happen to go past certain trees where fallen fruit is thick on the ground. 

We have two newly planted trees; a Doyenne de Comice (below), and a Conference. Both have fruits on them, but it's always difficult knowing when they are ready for picking. People often say that Pears don't ripen on the tree, that they have to be picked then left to ripen. I really don't know if this is correct for all varieties, but catching them 'just right' is never easy.


However, the Pears in the top picture always drop when they're ready to eat, which helps. It also means, of course, that they tend to have bruises, but that doesn't alter their delicious taste.

Bok will be getting to know one particular tree very well over the next week or two!



33 comments:

  1. Pears are ambrosial. They don't always do well here, sadly.
    I'm hoping to get enough to can a few jars of pear nectar.

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    Replies
    1. Pears really are at home in France, much as apples are at home in the UK.

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  2. Delicious!!!! There is nothing like a nice ripe pear dripping with juice.

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  3. And the countyside wins over the city, free fresh food for the bold.

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    1. 'Bold' is my middle name; although I have to admit that most of my scrumping is done with the owners blessings.

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  4. Oh I do so agree. There's nothing like a fresh sweet ripe juicy pear straight from the tree. It's one fruit that needs to be freshly picked, the ones that you find in the shops are not worth eating. I think Doyenne du Comice is my favourite.

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  5. I can't believe your young tree has produced so much fruit - my tree is about 20 years old and I haven't had one pear from it yet - the fruitlets all drop off in infancy. Maybe I should replace it as it gets rust every year as well. Not a happy tree.

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    1. Sounds like you got a bum tree. I think you might be wise to get rid, and replace with either a Conference or a Doyenne de C.

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  6. Do you discuss what route you will be taking with Bok before you set out and talk to him while you walk?

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  7. Does Bok eat pears?

    I ask because our last house had a pear tree, and Ginger (along with her best friend, a Boykin spaniel named Charlie) loved eating ripe pears from the ground. They gorged themselves on them!

    I like pears a lot, too. A plate of good pears along with sliced apples and Brie is one of my favorite snacks.

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    Replies
    1. No, but Monty did. He'd eat anything, including gravel.

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  8. It must be that time when you ask everyone for quince recipes.

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    Replies
    1. Too early Tom, I'll bore you with that later.

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    2. p.s. I've just noticed that I've lost 2 followers, do you think they were anticipating that Quince question?

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  9. Juicy pears slices, roquefort and "du bon pain complet", a glass of Condrieu and that's divine.

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    Replies
    1. Exchange the Condrieu for Pécharmant, and I'd agree.

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    2. I will try but Condrieu is the wine I cannot resist.

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  10. I have never seen a fruit tree produce more fruit than a pear tree. There is a very old pear tree on the neighbors acreage that produces very large pears. The largest I've seen. The fruits are very hard, but I still enjoy them. If I didn't have all my teeth, I might not enjoy them so. And, I crawl under the barb wire fence to abscond with them. The neighbor doesn't know about the tree and never prunes nor partakes of it.

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    Replies
    1. There's a tree nearby that produces very large round Pears, they are also quite hard, so no-one touches them.

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  11. Like Elaine I have a 15year old tree that flowers beautifully, has half a dozen pathetic fruitlets which fall off leaving me with nothing! This is the second tree I have planted and the first was rubbish too. First was a Comic e, second a Conference.My apples are superb, as are the plums (my favourite)
    I suppose you can't win 'em all.
    I lost a Bloglovin follower after my last post. I guess they are getting fed up of my rants!

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    Replies
    1. Pears like hot weather, apples prefer cooler. Maybe that's the problem. My advice; plant more Plums.

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  12. I lost 2 followers as well...I know my blog is dull so I don't mind! :)

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    Replies
    1. They come; they go; but they never say why.

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    2. Why? You seem an all-around decent person with an interesting life. Plus, you are a gardener.

      People who play in the dirt should stick together.

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  13. We had an eighty year old Bartlet pear that produced wonderful fruit but when we added onto MM the contractor cut it down (without our permission) so he would have easier access. An elderly neighbor made two pencil holders out of a large branch, but unfortunately every time I look at the thing sitting on my desk it reminds me of the damn contractor. And I still don’t have any pears!

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    Replies
    1. Be grateful. A friend of ours here asked a garden contractor to clear his garden of unwanted scrub etc. The man turned up (in our friend's absence) and set light to the grass, which then set light to all his trees, and part of the house. When our friend later turned up at his house to inspect the work he found everything charred and half the house burned to the ground. He refused to pay the contractor!

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  14. That's a disastrous thing to happen.
    Save us from so called "garden contractors" ! Sometimes I wonder how much many of them really know. We've lost some beautiful plants over the years - the usual excuse being that it looked dead - in winter !

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    Replies
    1. There are certain jobs that people do after they realise that they can't really do anything. Amongst these, unfortunately, is 'Gardener'.

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  15. I agree with you about the joy of savoring a ripened pear. How fortunate you are to have such a generous pear tree on a walking route that both you and Bok remember, particularly at this time of the year.

    Suddenly, today NYC is very hot and humid...a traditional duo we'd hoped to escape this August. The promised afternoon thunderstorm collected its energy about 4 pm, and then lost the plot. Humidity still clings.

    I found your previous post very moving, but hesitated to send a comment, thinking myself too recent a visitor.

    Best regards from New York.

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    Replies
    1. Comments are always welcomed Frances; even from a hot and humid NYC,

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