per·i·pa·tet·ic
ˌperēpəˈtedik/
adjective
  1. 1.
    traveling from place to place, especially working or based in various places for relatively short periods.
    "the peripatetic nature of military life"
    synonyms:nomadic, itinerant, traveling, wandering, roving, roaming, migrant,migratory, unsettled
    "I could never get used to her peripatetic lifestyle"
  2. 2.
    Aristotelian.
noun
  1. 1.
    a person who travels from place to place.
  2. 2.
    an Aristotelian philosopher.

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

A Winter Fruit Frenzy and Anticipating 'The Significant Other Blogfest'


Rubus spp. (thornless blackberry), maybe Arapaho, Apache, or Navaho
 According to Henry David Thoreau (Walden, Chapter 1, Economy), "the finest qualities of our nature, like the bloom on fruits, can be preserved only by the most delicate handling. Yet we do not treat ourselves nor one another thus tenderly."

What are those fine qualities of our nature that squish like ripe blackberries between clumsy fingers? And why don't we protect them from harm? Maybe we do if we are "tenders" in various applications of the word.


We can be tender in our conscience, in our words and actions, and we can be tenders of things like gardens...or stories.
 I've been putting off writing anything but these posts you read here and the comments I leave scattered around Blogland. Lots of things have been occupying my thoughts and time lately. The blueberry planting in our yard at home has been doubled, though we probably won't see much fruit from it for a few years. I had to "conquer and divide" the original plants, robbing from their roots to propagate new ones.


SAM and I added a few more fruit trees to the yard this past weekend. In addition to the plum trees in the foreground, beyond the palm tree/flower bed, we now have a couple of pear trees--"Flordahome" (not misspelled, by the way,) and "Hood." As I understand, they were both developed by the University of Florida and should do well in Santa Rosa County.

We also found a self-pollinating, Oriental persimmon, "Fuyu," for a good price at a feed supply place in Milton, the same place we got the pears. It's a non-astringent type, meaning that it can be picked and eaten before fully ripe. It won't pucker your mouth like those persimmons native to the U.S. that are more seed than anything. The root stock is from the native tree, though, and the scion is Japanese.

This site by a nursery close to Tallahassee, Just Fruit and Exotics, provides a wealth of information about what to expect from various cultivars and how to care for them. Their price was considerably higher than what we found at the feed store. I'm sure if we had purchased it there, the staff would have been knowledgable and helpful. You get what you pay for. The guy at the feed store insisted that the pears were self-pollinating, but I didn't believe him. As the UF site indicates, they're not.

As in most fruitful relationships and sometimes occupations, it takes two to tango. Writing is no exception, though many people would have you believe that it must be done in solitude. I don't believe it.

There's a blogfest going on this Friday, January 21, that might just prove my point, whatever it is. I've signed up SAM to share some thoughts about me, my writing, and how it affects our relationship. Check back here on Friday to see what he has to say.

Click on this site, Cruising Altitude, to see if you and your significant other would like to participate. I know, it's short notice, but sometimes spur-of-the-moment is better than well-planned. Seize the moment!


14 comments:

  1. I imagine both your writing and your garden will flourish with time and loving care. Husbands/wives of writers could do with a support group.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Don't count out those blueberries! The first year I planted one gallon plants they gave me berries and each year since. Looks like you have a good spot.

    Hmmmm, wonder what SAM will write about?

    ReplyDelete
  3. I am coming back to see what SAM writes about you. :)

    Good luck with all your berry bushes.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Looking forward to SAM's post!!! Where has he been, BTW! We sure had a load of fun with his geological contest!

    Nice fruit tree additions. I sure hope those thornless blackberries start 'doin right', or I will be very sad. Blueberries are one thing you can never have too many of!

    I had such a good laugh when thinking of what my husband would write...something along these lines:
    "GET A JOB"!!! LOLOL.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sarah, I just read an interesting post about patience and getting published at Mystery Writing is Murder (see my bloglist). I can handle the loving care part, but the time? It's getting fairly precious at my age! I agree with you about the support group. Maybe the blogfest will make some progress in that direction.

    Tina, I'm hoping the root pruning will spur those bushes on to produce like there's no tomorrow. Who knows? Maybe it will do them some good. We did get a fair amount from the bushes this past summer. I hope SAM will be as tender to me in the post as he is otherwise. We'll see!

    Rosey, see you then and thanks!

    Julie, SAM's been busy with his day job, and he's got another project going when he gets home from work. It's geology related so he gets energized by it. Who would think that rocks and such could be so exciting?

    I've got three of those blackberry vines so maybe I'll have a few to pick this year.

    Get a job? You're already a busy lady. A woman's work is never done:)

    ReplyDelete
  6. We had an apple tree in our yard, which yielded so much fruit one year and then nothing the next. But we figure that it is 'resting' - in that case, I'd like to think that we treat it tenderly by letting it do what it will. 8-)

    Blogging is certainly not a solitary activity for me - I'm constantly sharing what I write and read with my sig other. The blogfest sounds like fun!

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'm looking forward to seeing what SAM will write about you!

    Sounds like you have been very busy, W2W. How nice it will be to have such a variety of fresh fruit in the years ahead.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I'm new here *waves*.

    LOVE your new trees -- had no idea Florida was so flat!? Would love to see it for myself someday.

    ReplyDelete
  9. You better start researching blueberry recipes as you should have plenty to play... Sea Pork sounds interesting. I dont believe I would enjoy it as I try to walk along the shore though.

    Hum, I would never let the Saint loose on writing about me. LOL... I will have to peek in and see what SAM has to say about you girl. Should be interesting and I am guessing all positive....

    ReplyDelete
  10. Hi Walk2Write .. sounds like you plant2Write .. love the thought of all that fruit .. and looking forward to reading what Sam says you get up to!! .. cheers Hilary

    ReplyDelete
  11. Tangled Noodle, I noticed that resting spell that fruit trees require when we lived in Southern Illinois. The area is the fruit basket of the state. I'm with you on the sharing aspect, and it's not just with the sig other. Blogging buddies are such an inspiration and help to me with their informative posts, encouraging comments, as well as critical feedback. I'm glad you stopped by!

    Rose, I can take it, whatever he has to say. We've learned to say what we think to each other. Still, he might surprise me:)

    Hi, Jennie! Glad you're here. Actually, the part of Florida where we live has some rolling (sand)hills or ancient dunes. It's just that our neighborhood is fairly flat.

    Skeeter, I've got several favorite blueberry recipes, but there's always room for more.

    I'm sure the Saint would be tender to you. You gave him a wonderful name, after all. He couldn't be too disparaging with that halo over his head:)

    ReplyDelete
  12. Hello, Hilary! When I'm not walking, writing, reading, or cooking, I can usually be found working in the garden--mine at home in Santa Rosa County or here at the UF research center near Tallahassee. I say bring on the Spring so I can get busier outside!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Me too .. it's a little parky (frosty) again here today .. a heavy frost tonight methinks! Cheers H

    ReplyDelete
  14. best of luck with those blackberries

    ReplyDelete