Une Belle Journée (A Beautiful Day)

Going somewhere???

To be brutally honest, it was anything but beautiful. It was another dark and dreary day in normally "sunny" California. Our beautiful weather was nowhere to be found. Even those who insist upon a changing climate in the Golden State may have been secretly longing for just a tiny bit of global warming to peak through those sullen, downcast clouds.

Alas, no bit of warmth or sunshine was to be found on this day. However, there was plenty of rain. There was also plenty of snow in the higher elevations of Northern, Central and Southern California. By the time that Mother Nature gets through with California the mountains will be packed with snow and my Northern California garage will be transformed into an indoor swimming pool.

The inclement weather, however, did not stop hundreds of fresh fruit connoiseurs from using our drenched weather conditions to "flood" into the annual California Rare Fruit Growers (CRFG) scion exchange. The event hosted by the CRFG's Sacramento Chapter drew a boatload of fans. Some of whom actually may have arrived via boat.

CRFG Scion Exchange

Heavy, non-stop, rain and brutally cold (for California standards) conditions will not stop those who love fresh fruit from accomplishing a singular quest: The creation of even more fresh fruit that fans can harvest from front, side and back yards. The scion exchange, and the practice of grafting, can transform one variety of peach on a single tree, to a single tree that produces five varieties of peaches that all ripen at different times of the summer.

Or, if peaches really aren't your "thing," you can do the same with apples, figs, nectarines, cherries, mulberries, pluots, plums and, and, and (you get the picture). Judging from the pictures that came out of yesterday's event at the La Sierra Community Center in Carmichel, it does indeed appear that apples were the "in-demand" variety in 2023.

This is a good thing. Because I must have personally unpacked at least 500 gallon-sized bags that held scions from trees with names ranging from Admiral to Zonga and all letters in-between. Who knew there were so many?

Fruit Trees!

California's fruit tree providers were in attendance. How could Dave Wilson Nursery pass on an event like this? This one event not only drew people looking to acquire cherry or pluot trees, but rare types of fruit that carry names like Dragon, Moringa and Inga Ice Cream.

Many of these are tropical fruit varieties that can be a bit hard to find at many nurseries. But, you will find them at Alora's Light Nursery. Plus, you will find the mind behind Alora's at the CRFG scion exchange.

As for me? I came for the grapes. No, not wine grapes. Call me a table grape guy. I gave up my collection of nine table grape vines during a divorce in 2016. I have missed them ever since. There's nothing quite like harvesting and munching on a never-ending table grape supply.

Alora's Light Nursery

Although I may never get the chance to grow nine different varieties again (which may be a bit much, but I will debate you on that point), I did pick up scions for the Himrod and Flame varieties. Although many believe that the Flame is a seedless offshoot of the old Flame Tokay grape, that isn't the case. I had been hoping to acquire scions from the Flame Tokay grape, a seeded variety that is still grown in some parts of San Joaquin County, especially around Lodi. Alas, none were available. Maybe next year.

The Himrod variety came out of New York in 1952, but may also have its roots in Turkey and elsewhere in Europe. Because it is considered to be a good producer in colder areas of the country, it ripens early in California's famously warm and temperate climate. That's my type of table grape! Plus, after this never-ending winter, I'll take some of that warmth!