After being a guest blogger on the 12 Days of Cookies series on Local Savour, it got me thinking about how great it would be to do my own "12 Days" theme. However, what to do it on? I thought that cookies, desserts, crafts and such had all been done. What's a grits girl to do?
Before I had a chance to figure out a theme, a freeze warning came across the news which meant there was early harvesting to be had. By harvesting, I mean that our beautiful Meyer lemon tree that was over-loaded with fruit had to be picked so that the freeze would not ruin them. So my sweet husband started picking. I made room on the kitchen table and bowl after bowl and basket after basket were handed to me. After the first round of 400 (yep that's what I said, 400) he called it a night as darkness set in. The next day he picked over 100 more. We left another 100 or more on the tree because they were not quite ripe enough, setting up a small heat lamp and wrapping the tree in Christmas lights with the hope it would make a difference.
500 lemons, could a girl be any more blessed? My tequila guy will be taking his share of these pretty yellow globes for our annual batch of Limoncello. I will juice as many as my freezer will hold. I will barter with some of my lovely food-blogger friends. Some will be given as gifts to neighbors. Then I will feel satisfied knowing that this sweet little tree that is perhaps 20 years old and traveled with us from California, has fully blessed us. With that blessing, I feel it only right and respectful to do a 12 Days of Meyer series, I'm jus' sayin'!
Day 1: Preserved Meyer Lemons
Recipe can be found on this post - http://girlgonegrits.blogspot.com/2010/01/lemon-twist.html
Kristina, we're in Burnet County, 60 mi NW of you, on alkaline soil. I have a 3-yr-old container tree I want to put in the ground, in a sheltered spot. Any advice on that soil?
ReplyDeleteHi Susan, my husband planted the tree (now almost 12 years ago) and he said he did not amend the soil much if at all. It's a heavy clay here with lots of limestone/rock - we've never done a soil assessment to know the alkaline level so I'm not sure how much I can help there. Our tree is in a very sheltered spot (6-ft fence on 2 sides, house on the third) which gives it a lot of protection. When it was first planted in the ground, we did make sure to cover it when hard freezes came through. We also have a blood orange tree that is not as protected and it has not grown quite as well. Sorry I can't offer more specifics. We are blessed that our little tree has survived freezes droughts and moves. Remember some times our tree gives alot and some years just enough. So you may have years like that as well-Don't give up. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks,Kristina--that's what I needed to hear. I'm thinking that our soils are about the same. I'm still learning what the fruiting cycle is on this plant. It has 5 big (green) lemons, several marble-sized lemons, some blossoms. This morning, there was a tattered Queen butterfly on one of the blossoms!
ReplyDeleteYou are more than welcome. I also might mention that if it's in a container move it inside when it freezes, the garage (if you can). We cover our tree with strands of old christmas lights (the new led don't work well) and this year we also purchased heat lamps. We are testing them out to see how they do with the green ones we still have left on the tree. I will report back how that works after the freeze. Enjoy the ones you have, I love spring when our tree is loaded with bees and butterflies. Sounds like that butterfly saw beauty this morning too.
ReplyDeleteWow! Talk about a bumper crop! I can't wait to see all the wonderful things you make with your lovely lemons.
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