Beauty

There is not really anything new to say about the wonderful Chestnut Crabapple that I have not said before.

I just grabbed this one at farmer's market yesterday because it is so darned pretty.

Just look at those curves and that distinct, and distinctive, orange gold layered on orange red.

(Click the image for a closer look.)

That which we call a crab

The idea of "crab apple" is more of a social construct than a botanical category, at least in popular parlance.

There are some apples that are naturally small, and many ornamental varieties have berry-sized fruit. These are often bitter spitters.

The Chestnut, however, is exceptionally well balanced and its size may depend on how they are grown.

The Chestnut shown was one of the smaller ones for sale yesterday, and it is practically a "small." (That is an American quarter dollar piece for comparison.) 

I picked up one that is medium sized.

I assume the size differences are a result of thinning, natural or otherwise, in the spring.

I also got some Macoun and Golden Russet at the market, passing up such worthies as Starkey and Hudson's Golden Gem. 

Not much room in my fridge after my shopping binge last weekend.