With Luscious Juices Overflowing

"Close to the Gates a spacious Garden lies,
From the Storms defended and inclement Skies;
Four Acres was the allotted Space of Ground,
Fenc'd with a green Enclosure all around.
Tall thriving Trees confessed the fruitful Mold:
The reddening Apple ripens here to Gold,
Here the blue Fig with luscious Juice overflows,
With deeper Red the full Pomegranate glows,
The Branch here bends beneath the weighty Pear,
and verdant Olives flourish round the Year."
-   Homer,  Odyssey, circa 850 B.C.
    Alexander Pope translation 1725

This is the time of the year for many figs to ripen in our home orchard.  We dry many of them for eating later in the year.  

"The fallen hazel-nuts,
Stripped late of their green sheaths,
The grapes, red-purple,
Their berries
Dripping with wine,
Pomegranates already broken,
And shrunken fig,
And quinces untouched,
I bring thee as offering."
-   Hilda Doolittle, 1886-1961, Priapus: Keeper-of-Orchards


Fruits and Nuts 

Quotes for Gardeners