There is a better way!

  Our peach orchard sits in the back of the house about half way down to the creek.  Obviously, we were not using our brains when we decided that it was a good idea to plant the trees here.  Even though for a while we had a six foot tall fence surrounding the trees, critters still raided the fruit.  We tried to outsmart the animals by adding several rows of electric fence wire around the top of the existing fence.  The critters still raided the fruit.  Nothing we did could dissuade the critters from stealing peaches every night.  What made this most frustrating was the fact that even though they would bite a peach, the varmints never finished a single one.  One bite and the peach was dropped to the ground.  This just ruined bushels of fruit.  We decided that we needed to pick the peaches before they ripened.  Perhaps this would work. Nope, the coons, squirrels, birds and deer all decided to beat us to the punch and nibble the green, unripe fruit. This whole thing was very disheartening.

  Then a seedling peach tree decided to push its way through the mulch in the Rose Garden.  I carefully dug it and potted it in hopes that perhaps we could find a place that would be critter-free.  Since the Rose Garden has been transformed into the Cottage Garden with veggies, fruits and herbs, the sapling was transplanted in a prime spot.  It grew quickly and this year produced a number of fruit.  So far, no critters have devoured our peaches!  Perhaps planting the tree in the midst of the tomatoes, squash and cucumbers disguised it to the point that the animals were unable to find it!  Perhaps, Ms. Ez, the Bayou Dog, did her job a bit better this year.  Perhaps, I need to plant more fruit trees within feet of the house!  This definitely seems to be a much better way of getting fruit!

  Usually a seedling peach has better odds of being a clingstone peach where the seed hangs tight to the flesh but this seedling is the perfect freestone type!  The fruit is sweet, juicy and highly flavorful! Mark and I are pondering whether to try our hand at planting another seed or investing in a tree from the nursery.  Since this one did so well, I might just plant a seed...or two...or maybe a dozen or so!