Kitchen Garden : Medlar Blossom

Medlar Blossom.

An unusual sweet delight was spotted in the picturesque High Elms Country Park orchard (in Kent) within the BEECHE Wildlife Garden, next to an apiary - this pretty white blossom of the medlar tree stood out against its glossy green leaves.

It was a treat to see it, looking so perfect - such promises!

Wildlife Garden High Elms : Medlar. Nature Art Workshops.

Wildlife Garden High Elms : Orchard

The tree won't be looking so unblemished later in the year, when the medlar fruits grow and ripen, and ripen some more, until - eventually - they become bletted - only then are they considered to be a perfect delicacy; ripened, rotted -and ready to eat!

This poor old-fashioned type of fruit tree has endured much negativity associated with its ugly, decayed fruits - it boasts several base nicknames and has held its place in literature as imagery for something vile. In many respects, this fruit is hardly appetizing!

The rotten fruit - when it should actually be eaten - resembles the soft, pulpy, rotten puree of aged, windswept apples - and it looks like it might smell about as pungent as a barrel of rotting fruit left to stew in rainwater for a few months!

Another medlar grows much closer to home - each year it tempts with its showy golden globes (which are not really ugly at all - perhaps a little like rosehips) - until the transformation into its infamous dented, dark, crisp shells, with promises of an explosion of rotten fruit pulp, whispers ' maybe next year..'!

Kitchen Garden Blog - May

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British Wildlife Artist Writer Illustrator

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