Louisiana Sweet Oranges…or not
My heart is broken. The six (and only six) oranges left on the tree we planted last year are gone. We weren’t really expecting any the first year, so we were really excited when we had a ton of buds, then hundreds of tiny green oranges, which diminished slowly until eight were left. Two split and we removed them. And when I went to check the one that had started to turn yellow this morning, they were all gone. Even the ones in a bunch that I contrived a pvc-and-rag contraption to hold up since they were too heavy for the little orange tree branches.
What’s funny is, this weekend I was saying how I’d like to plant a fruit tree in the front yard for people to take from as they pleased.
But not the tiny little tree in our backyard, not our first-fruits! Not all of them!
Am I being selfish? Part of me says, “Share! Why do you need those oranges, when you have a basket of Satsumas that were given to you?” But I really, really, really wanted to taste those oranges. They could have left us one!
I’m telling myself that if I had a huge tree overflowing with oranges, I wouldn’t have even noticed, much less minded. But they’re all gone. Maybe next year there will be enough for us to get some. But I don’t want to wait another year! It makes me wonder about people. Harumph. And then I just feel bad for being grumpy. It’s not fair.
Are you sure it wasn’t an animal that took them, like a raccoon or a deer?
November 17th, 2009 at 8:32 ammaybe an animal took them. an african swallow perhaps.
November 17th, 2009 at 8:34 amConsider those first fruits given to God. It won’t hurt as much. And bring some Satsmaus for Thanksgiving.
November 17th, 2009 at 3:47 pmLove you.
wow! mary’s right. plus, it could be the critters most likely. but we just harvested our 1st bananas since all the hurricanes. we lost many that never matured, so i can relate to the disappointment! kathy
November 18th, 2009 at 6:50 amSadly, we’re not in a very critter-ful area. No deer, and few raccoons that I know of. I don’t think there’s anything around here that is tall enough to reach the oranges, or small enough to climb the very scrawny tree yet strong enough to break the oranges free. It’s a good idea, though. I would think a European Swallow would be more likely than an African one, however. 🙂
November 18th, 2009 at 5:31 pmThat is, unless it was the goats. But they haven’t been sighted in months, and I would have expected way more damage if they were the culprits.
November 18th, 2009 at 5:32 pm