Well hello everyone, and welcome to "Friday Foto Friends". Time to show off our Fotos of the week...something that caught our eye and made us grab our cameras. You just never know what you will discover here on Fridays!
So, nature lesson of the week:
Do you know what kind of fruit/tree this is?
I immediately used my Google Lens on my phone to check it out to be sure of what it was.
If you said Persimmon, you are correct. This is known as the Common Persimmon, or Possumwood, Possum Apples, Sugar Plums. We discovered these trees growing wild in our usual walking area today.
Now, I have noticed the trees before today, and thought when they first started getting their leaves back in the spring that they looked like some kind of fruit tree, similar to a peach tree. But I never realized that they actually had fruit on them until today! And they are loaded!
Well, hubby noticed one fruit that was pretty yellowish red and said it looked like a ripe persimmon, so he took it and took a little bite out of it. And then he handed it to me and said it was good to eat. (We sound like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, but he must have been the one listening to the serpent, since he talked me into tasting the fruit.)
And this is what we both quickly learned: Be sure the persimmon is completely RIPE before eating!
As soon as we bit into the persimmon, our mouths became extremely dry and "fuzzy" feeling, and puckery, with no saliva to wet our lips or our mouth. We immediately spit them out and couldn't wait to get back to the car to get some water. No, they aren't poisonous, but we found out why you are not supposed to eat (or try to eat) a persimmon that is not almost dead ripe and ready to fall on the ground! Read the highlighted link above for more information. So that is our nature lesson of the week! Never listen to that serpent in the garden either! That's our theological lesson of the week too! LOL.
Okay, next up, it's beginning to smell a lot like Christmas!
We have been needing to do some tree trimming and cutting, especially before this tropical storm (hurricane?) that is coming up the coast this weekend. We found a young man literally up in the top of our neighbor's palm tree trimming the palms off the top, and we asked him to come over to our house when he could shinny back down the tree. And so he did. After some discussion we decided to remove a couple of pine trees from in front of our pond that are growing rapidly and actually too close to our deck/house and need to be removed before they get too big. We also are having some other trees trimmed and cleaned up .
These fresh cut pine branches sure smelled a lot like a Christmas tree!
This tree was young and full of sap! Can you count the rings?
And here is our tree man preparing to pull this dead oak tree down...
I did have a video of this operation, but it is easier just to show you the pictures.
Down she goes! He will be back on Saturday to finish up and do some more work on a taller tree, so I hope to get some good pictures then. Especially if he actually climbs up the tree!! Oh, by the way, he calls himself "George of the Jungle".
And tonight I was rewarded with a wonderful view of the magnificent sunset.
These pictures do NOT do it justice.
Psalm 19 is a good place to end:
1. "The heavens declare the glory of God,
and the firmament shows His handiwork.
2. Day unto day utters speech,
and night unto night reveals knowledge.
3. There is no speech nor language
Where their voice is not heard.
4. Their line has gone out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In them He has set a tabernacle for the sun,
5. Which is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber,
and rejoices like a strong man to run its race.
6. Its rising is from one end of heaven,
and its circuit to the other end;
and there is nothing hidden from its heat."
Hope that you and your house are safe and sound and have a blessed and wonderful weekend. And remember, Don't eat any unripe persimmons! LOL>
Good Morning, Interesting to read about the persimmon. My brother once lived along the shore of Lake Hartwell in an old cabin. The woods there were full of persimmons. So glad you found "George of the Jungle" to do tree work for you. I love that you have a better view of the pond now. The sunset pics are glorious. The sky looks like colorful ribbons! Wishing you a nice day and weekend.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful that your view at the pond has been opened up so nicely. the sky is gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThe view of the pond is beautiful and you will enjoy many sunsets. Smart to have those trees trimmed before the storm. I just love the smell of fresh cut evergreens. We certainly ought to decorate with pines in Florida:)
ReplyDeleteLove that Psalm. You have a beautiful view. My husband and I joked that we used to really like trees until we became homeowners! We are going to have a bunch taken down in front of our house. I've never seen or eaten a persimmon, so it was interesting to read your anecdote. I'm glad I discovered your blog.
ReplyDeleteJan
Family and friends are the greatest gifts God has given me. Love the reminder to be thankful. Thanks Cathy!
Jan
Laughter and Consistency
Growing up in Arkansas we were told to eat a Persimmon after the first frost. Which is a problem here because the fruit falls off the tree before we ever get a frost. We have a few trees on our trails here too and I have been watching them. We have 2 trees...one has fruit and one doesn't...which has to do with male and female which is interesting. Love that you have an even better view of your pond. It's so pretty! Enjoy your day!
ReplyDeleteYes, your sunset photos are wonderful, Pamela! I do like your new view of the pond, too, now that the pines have been removed. And I won't be trying any persimmons any time soon!
ReplyDeleteBlessings!
So very, very beautiful! And the expanded view without the trees blocking it are wonderful! Persimmons were a favorite of my father. I never cared for them, but I also knew they were awful if not ripe, so that probably didn't help because I was afraid I'd get an unripe one. lol
ReplyDeleteSuch beautiful sunset photos! It is good to get the trees trimmed/removed before the storms come. I heard today there are two more tropical waves headed this way after this one passes by. Let's hope for a calm weekend for our way and pray for those in the path.
ReplyDeletePsalm 19:1 is one that often comes to my mind when I watch a beautiful sunset. This one is a beauty.
ReplyDeleteThank you Pam, for sharing a bit of you life through photos. God's creation is absolutely stunning. And the persimmon? Nothing like learning the "hard way" to use care with fruit. :)
ReplyDeleteLove and blessings!
looks nice with the trees out of the way.
ReplyDeletePam: The house I grew up in (until high school) had a persimmon tree just outside our back door, across the back walk. I remember it had very rough bark. It was just the right texture to use to clean off the dust mop. After we got married, Hubby's half sister always made persimmon pudding in the fall. I tried once and it turned out like rubber. From then on, I let her make it.
ReplyDelete