SEDUCTIVE FRUIT-BEARING TREES
Sensualists are people who experience the world (and thrive in it) using their five senses more acutely than most people. While trees are beautiful and essential for providing oxygen, they are, of course, sources of food and sustenance. They are also very commonly at the core of some of our most deeply held beliefs. Just think about the apple that tempted Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden (it was actually probably a fig or even a pomegranate).
Fruit sensualists are people who seek out fruit when it’s most ripe, juicy, and delicious. You don’t have to be a vegetarian or vegan to appreciate fruit and its origin fully; you just have to be open to nature and all it has to offer.
Our favorite fruit-bearing trees that have, since the beginning of time, inspired myths, poetry, and great art include (but are not limited to):
- Figs: The writer and poet D.H. Lawrence—a sensualist known for his provocative prose— famously wrote in his poem “Figs” that “The fig is a very secretive fruit. As you see it standing growing, you feel at once it is symbolic: And it seems male. But when you come to know it better, you agree with the Romans, it is female.”
Just this small excerpt gives any admirer of fig trees and the fruit they bear great insight into why the plant has been cultivated with such care and, to this day, has such exotic appeal. The common fig tree (Ficus carica) is an ideal addition to any orchard or edible garden as it bears a deliciously sweet, plump harvest. Fiddle-leaf Figs are also ideal as houseplants; they are small and have showy, broad leaves that liven up any room.
“Surely the apple is the noblest of fruits.” -Henry David Thoreau
- Apples are, by far, one of the most symbolic fruits. Although common, there’s no better snack, and with fall approaching, apple picking is a wonderful activity. Known as the “forbidden fruit” that Eve plucked (and for which she was banished from the Garden of Eden), apples will always be associated with the Bible (and temptation) but are, of course, associated with other things as well (such as pies, back to school, the age-old adage of “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” and a young George Washington chopping down the cherry tree). There’s nothing lovelier than an apple orchard in spring when each tree is filled with tiny white blossoms.
- Pomegranates are filled with red seeds that look like jewels and are coveted for their health benefits. It is thought that if you eat a pomegranate upon catching a cold, it may act as a cure (they’re loaded with Vitamin C and antioxidants). Because of their rich red color, pomegranates are associated with life force and fertility.
- Olives are a Mediterranean staple that are not only a culinary delight but have become a symbol of peace. An olive branch is a token of forgiveness, and, with their long, narrow, silvery grey leaves, olive trees are quite beautiful and unique. A favorite at Chelsea Flowers, we offer olive trees as the perfect addition to your garden or lawn.
- Cherry: Pablo Neruda most famously wrote in one of his love poems, “I want to do with you what spring does with the cherry trees.” Cherry trees are definitely a favorite of many and quite a sight to behold when in full bloom. In springtime, people flock to areas lined with them to see their magnificent display of pale pink flowers. Whether you’re in Washington, DC or Japan, there are many famous places to enjoy the grandeur of cherry trees.
- Peaches are beloved for their slightly fuzzy exterior and when ripe, sweet and juicy interior. One of the most common stone fruits, peach trees were first cultivated in China. Just the name “peach” conjures associations of the delicious blush color, a beautiful girl or something that’s really pleasant (or “peachy”). Before the trees bear fruit, they swell with frothy pink petals. Vincent Van Gogh’s “Pink Peach Tree in Blossom” is a famous example of nature’s voluptuous spectacle.
- Pears are mostly known for their unique shape, sweetness, and pleasantly grainy texture. When in bloom, pear trees are covered in little white blossoms. Each petal
Is a velvety, smooth creation; it’s no wonder something so beautiful yields such bountiful fruit. Gustav Klimt’s 1903 painting of a pear tree heavy with fruit is a prime example of how something commonplace not only nourishes our bodies but provides inspiration for artistic masterpieces. The pear is known as a symbol of affection and, in Zora Neal Hurston’s famous novel, “Their Eyes Were Watching God,” is a great source of comfort for the protagonist.
To learn more about what Chelsea Flowers has to offer (along with olive trees), check out the website, link below, and read what’s on the blog.
Olive Trees Buy Online – Chelsea Flowers
To read all of D.H. Lawrence’s famous sensualist poem, visit the website below:
Figs by D H Lawrence – Famous poems, famous poets. – All Poetry