Adam's Apples

The apple-shaped earth and we upon it, surely the drift of them is something grand, I do not know what it is except that it is grand, and that it is happiness . . . . —Walt Whitman Sculptor (and orchardist) Linda Hoffman cites these words as inspiration for her Bronze work, " This Apple-Shaped Earth ."

You probably know that crabapples are, basically, little apples. They can be sour, bitter, sweet, good, or bad, just like other apples. Just had to get that out of the way. Today's are on the large side for crabs, standing about 2 inches tall. Although standing is a little problematic because, for some, the remains of the calyx , clenched tight, project beyond the tiny area defined by the "chins" or crown at the base.

The apples hang heavy on the trees in Harvard, Massachusetts, yesterday.

The English church incorporated the Offering of the First Fruits into its observances of Lammas , a seasonal holiday that predates Christianity. Early apples join stone fruit and pears (and berries!) on the Lammastide menu: