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Gifts of the Gods

© Thomas James Martin

I wish that I could say that Joyce and I chose the pear tree that is the pride and joy of our backyard orchard after rigorous study of guides to selecting and planting fruit trees. In truth, we just wanted to plant a few fruit trees in our backyard and did not proceed with proper horticultural advice or significant research regarding varieties of fruit trees and climate. (Eventually we did read some books on the subject.)

While driving the local byways a few years ago, we noticed a nursery displaying signs advertising that it was going out of business and was now offering tremendous bargains. From that somewhat serendipitous circumstance, we took home a Bartlett pear already well-establised at seven feet tall and around 2 inches in diameter at a truly reasonable price. We were also fascinated that the limbs of two other varieties, Bosch and Comice, had been grafted onto the sapling.

Now, fruit trees have always symbolized for me a sense of wellness and health. They represent in my own personal universe a kind of marriage of the essence of the wild with the cultivation of civilization. While I certainly appreciate their tangy, sweet taste, I am always stunned with the beauty of fruit rendered by Nature so incredibly in thousands of shadings of color and texture.

Our pear was the first of the fruit trees that we planted in the side yard of our Beaverton (Oregon) home. For the first few years we had delicate, white blossoms but little fruit, which we understand is typical of many pear trees. However in each of the past three years our tree, which has grown rapidly to a height of about twenty feet, has yielded at least a bushel or two of Bartlett pears with a few Bosch and Comice also. The yield is less this year, but as always the taste is heavenly.

By the way, not all pears turn yellow as they ripen. Aside from Bartletts, which turn from green to bright yellow, or Red Bartletts that change to a bright crimson color, most pears show little or no change in color as they ripen. To check for ripeness, press gently near the stem end. If the fruit is soft and yielding, it is ready to eat.

Pears are loaded with dietary fiber, are good sources of potassium, and even with their abundant, naturally-sweet juices, average sized pears have only 100 calories. A medium sized pear, weighing about 166 grams, contains only 100 calories. Levulose, the sweetest of known natural sugars, is found to a greater extent in fresh pears than any other fruit!

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