Monday, January 7, 2013

Orange You Glad

 I have discovered
that one of the best parts 
of living in Arizona 
during the winter 
is
the abundance of 
citrus plants
full of  juicy
mouth watering
oranges
grapefruit
lemons
and 
limes.
 It's January 
and many parts of the
 United States
are blanketed in snow
with freezing temperatures.
It feels quite luxurious
 to look outside
and see sunny skies,
with fruit trees brimming at their peak,
 and daily temperatures hovering in the 60's,
 It seems like just about every household
 has at least one, 
if not many 
citrus trees.
 Quite a few of the
houses in our neighborhood
plant
their grapefruit 
and
orange trees 
right in their front yard.
 We are caring for a friend's orchard
while they are out of town
and they have told us to feel free to pick 
or give away their 
vast amounts of produce.
 Each morning I slice
beautiful pink grapefruit
and tree ripened oranges.
 With such abundance, it is easy to
have fresh juice within minutes.
These are the sweetest oranges I have ever tasted.
Food for the Gods!
Knowing that Mr. Cactus and I cannot possibly 
juice or eat all that these trees hold,
I have made several attempts to give 
away what seems to me 
to be something 
akin to pure gold.
Many neighbors say
 "No Thanks.  We have trees of our own."
Church friends insist they too have plenty.
Work associates back away cautiously, claiming their 
trees are loaded.
It made me think back 
to living in Utah and trying 
to get rid of share zucchini 
from the summer garden.
*I just may resort to
filling grocery bags
with the 
most exquisite
mouth watering 
produce
on this planet
and
doorbell ditch
:)

17 comments:

Sherri said...

Oh how wonderful! I absolutely love grapefruit--wish I lived closer! It freezes here too much for citrus...some people are able to grow it, but they have to do a lot of covering the trees when it gets too cold.

Karen - Quilts...etc. said...

have your tried making orange marmalade? or anything else with the fruit? how lovely to have those trees in your friends yard!

CJ said...

Mmmmmmmm and what a treat to have it right there! Fill the car with them when you head back home! I mean, really - the truck, the backseat--FILL IT!

Nat Palaskas said...

It's luxurious to have your own fruit trees. We have one apricot, one plum and a lemon tree. We just put in lime tree, but it hasn't yet fruit. Lucky you to have abundant of them from your neighbor's. Make some marmalade with the three fruits - Enjoy Nat

Lynette said...

Lucky lady :D

Jan Marie said...

what a great problem to have. I wish I was close enough to get doorbell ditched.

Kris said...

You can come up to Logan and doorbell ditch!! :-)) And at the same time you can have frozen orange juice!! ;-)

dream quilt create said...

You made my mouth water! I have always longed for some citrus trees :)

Sharon L said...

How about the homeless shelters of food kitchens or are they already being provided to?

•stephanie• said...

if you're still overloaded with citrus at the end of the month, bring some to quilt group! :)

Nanette Merrill said...

Citrus is my favorite fragrance. Fresh citrus is wonderful. What a blessing.

ytsmom said...

Freeze the juice? I think you can section the fruit and freeze it also.

Glenna @ Hollyhock Quilts said...

Jealous, jealous, jealous!! At least we have a pomegranate tree. A friend made WONDERFUL pom jelly from the poms this year. YUM!!

Cindy said...

Or just make a trip to Utah and bring me a sack of gold! Nothing better than fresh oj.

Janet said...

How fabulous, I've never been without a lemon tree but I can't grow them here, the cockatoos eat them all while they are still green. I could try again I guess with some netting.

Mary Ellen said...

Send them here!

Kirsten said...

If you still have a surplus, bring them to MQG! I miss having a grapefruit tree in the backyard!!