Pleasant Garden Surprises

[F, Calla & Luca]

As you know, there are sometimes unpleasant surprises in the yard, especially mine. But today, while mowing, I found this little peach. At least I think it's a peach. It was on an ornamental tree I've had some years but it's in the shade and never really grew. It's only a few feet tall.This year it did have some more pretty flowers and it has purple leaves. I thought it was because we had such bountiful rain last year. Today when I was mowing I saw the fruit. Just one. And I thought this tree was a cherry : )

This is the peach next to a AAA battery for size comparison : )

Gardening will always keep you on your toes knees. Any surprises in your garden?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's a beautiful tree! I would never have thought peaches grew so far North!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Oh certainly. We used to have beautiful peach orchards right near here but "progress" has pushed most of them out. But NJ is the garden state and all kinds of fruit grows here. There still are lots of orchards in NY state and in less populated ares of NJ. I wonder if there are peaches in Illinois?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

There might be some in the southern part of the state; I've never heard of any here. Apples, pears, even cherries, but never peaches or any of the summer tree fruits, really. I'll have to do some research.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Just glanced. You are in hardiness Zone 5 and there are peaches that are hardy there. Of course by now you are probably Zone 8 : )They really did change the zones a half # this year.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Woe, we're zone 5 and the southernmost tip of the state is 7!

[F, Calla & Luca]

Funny woe, did you not mean whoa or do you like peaches that much?.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Karen, for you.

http://www.orangepippin.com/orchards/united-states/illinois

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Thanks, F. I only see apple orchards on that search tool, but maybe I'm not looking in the right places.

It's almost 400 miles to the southern tip of Illioins, so they probably can grow a lot more there than we can up here near the WI border.

[F, Calla & Luca]

The one I clicked on was 5 hours from Chicago but I don't know from the town names where they are. This was in Brussels, who knew there was one.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Oh, I see them. There are quite a few, but pretty far away. Brussels is down by St. Louis, along the Mississippi river. Most of the peach orchards I saw listed were in that area.

[Donna K & Quincy]

Wow, that is such a nice surprise, my surprise not so much.

This is what I discovered in my garden, that and stinging nettles. He was not alone. :<(

[F, Calla & Luca]

Cute and most importantly, well perhaps not to you, alive. I found something really grim last week or so but the doodles didn't do it. It was hara-kari. Love the begonia.