Though I can only fit one more tree into my soon-to-be planted Japanese edible garden, here are the ones I most desire and must choose from:
Persimmon tree photo by Hiroshi Yoshino
There is no tree more graceful and delicious than the persimmon, I never want to live without one again. It gallantly sacrifices its leaves in a burst of autumn color, then treats us to a view of its lovely limbs, decorated only with lantern-like sweet fruit. Over winter, the sun will stream though its branches to my Japanese herb garden.
Weeping Ume (Japanese apricot) at Burnley Horticultural college. Photo by Cecilia
Weeping mulberry photo from EdibleLandcapes
This extraordinary tree made its presence known long before I saw it, with the heavenly plum-blossom scent. Sadly, the weeping variety is different to the tree that makes the vividly-flavored umeboshi (salty pickled plums) that I eat with my rice each day. I would love to create my own supply. Unless they are pickled, the Ume plums - known as japanese apricots - are not edible. Umeshu is the lovely sweet liquer made at home by steeping Ume fruit with a blend of distilled alcohol (shochu) and sugar.
Weeping mulberry photo from EdibleLandcapes
Mulberries are great with sugar, clotted cream and shortbread, or make lovely cordial and low-sugar jelly. If you get the urge to make your own silk, feed its leaves to your silkworms.
A choice bush for for chasing women around then canoodling under, its traditional function.
A choice bush for for chasing women around then canoodling under, its traditional function.
I must choose only one of these gorgeous creatures.
Tantalizing. But maybe I could persuade the other two to be happy at potted balcony garden trees. Where there is a will...
Tantalizing. But maybe I could persuade the other two to be happy at potted balcony garden trees. Where there is a will...
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