I love when the cherries ripen and summers bounty begins with a flurry, the first fruits of the season! My parents planted this cherry tree in their back yared 50 years ago when their dreams were just beginning and their lives together were new. Now my dad is gone and my mom holds down the Homestead. Like the tree they produced beautiful fruit in the form a family that continues to grow to this day.
Our cherry tree traditions start from the planting of the tree after my sister was born, the beginning of a bountiful harvest. Cherry tree traditions include pictures of my sister arrayed by the beauty of a million white cherry blossoms on her wedding day. A baby shower for the first grandson under the canopy of blossoms on a perfect March day. The initiation of a boyfriend that became my husband, during cherry picking season as the family embraced yet another member.
We had the joy of being in Japan during Sakura (Cherry Blossom Season) a few years ago. The Japanese respect the elegant cherry tree, picnicking under its blossoms during Sakura, lighting the trees up with a thousand twinkle lights and supporting the ancient limbs once they are old. They are proud of the trees that have stood their stately ground for hundreds of years.
This knowledge helped us nurture our old tree during the years of the California drought that only ended this year. During the drought years we removed dead limbs and watched the tree ooze sap. We hardly harvested a bowl full that year, yet we looked to the future with hope. This year the rains revived the ancient docent of our garden and filled it with new life and cherries!
We have been eyeing the shiny red globes for weeks now in anticipation of harvest. Hoping the rains won’t come too late and burst the precious harvest. Waiting for the strengthening sun to ripen the cherries to deep red perfection. Finally the time has come and my husband has donned his tool belt that will soon be filled to the brim with ripe cherries.
He climbs up the ladder and up into the massive 50 year old tree in search of the darkest sweetest cherries, he emerges with bags full of the “red” gold. My mom and I sit under the cherry tree and remove the pits, dreaming of pies and ice cream for the months to come.
In future posts I will share some of my favorite cherry recipes, including the best Pie Crust and Cherry Pie you have ever tasted. Also don’t miss the Cherry Cheesecake Ice Cream!
For More “Homestead” Articles see our Archive stories:
The Beginning of a Blog (Published May 18, 2017)
The Cherry Tree (Published May 20, 2017)
How to Roast Your Own Coffee Beans (Published May 22, 2017)
Successful Square Foot Gardening (Published May 23, 2017)
Yosemite (Published June 7, 2017)
My Tiny House (Published June 15, 2017)
Canning and Preserving:
Noyaux (French bitter almond extract from stone fruit) (Published Aug 7, 2017)
Sweet & Spicy Pickles (Published July 6, 2017)
Canned Peaches (Published August 23, 2018)
Ricotta from Powdered Milk (Published Aug 5, 2017)
Candied Orange Peel (Published September 12, 2018)
