Adam's Apples

Macoun in autumn Even in a good year, the delightful Macoun cannot be had for love or money after the end of March. Yet I am eating one today at the tail end of May. It's a wonderful apple in inferior shape, and eating one today is both rewarding and disappointing. Nonetheless I eat for pleasure and by choice, not from obligation or loyalty.

Part of the orchard at Hutchins Farm on May 13 The last time I visited Hutchins Farm in Concord (Mass.), it was April and the orchard was just beginning to blossom. I returned earlier today to find the trees all set, gay blossoms put away, earnestly laboring (one hopes) to bring forth fruit this fall.

So, what makes an apple an heirloom? Or antique? Is it just a matter of seniority, or is there more to it than that?

April's Ashmead In April I reach into the back of my disorganized refrigerator and eat the very last of my fall hoard . There are always a few surprises. So it is that in the past few weeks I have had my last Lady Alice (excellent flavor still crisp and firm, if ever-so-slightly rubbery), Ananas Reinette (inedible) and Ashmead's Kernel (an absolute marvel). Also a few other odds and ends, with similarly mixed results.

Earlier today at two local apple orchards, blossoms are just beginning to burst forth. Starting to flower at Nagog Farm in Littleton, Mass. Some trees were all green, and others in full bloom, but most were in between.

It's a personal thing As usual this time of year I am eating many of the hard, dense apples that populate supermarkets. Tooth, like taste, is fundamental to an apple's quality and is a personal preference. Some people just can't get their teeth around the really hard apples. Meanwhile I am noticing real differences in the texture of what's in the stores. Off-season apples are stored for months and transported, sometimes for thousands of miles. It's no wonder that growers and retailers (and consumers) prefer sturdy fruits that keep well and withstand the rigors of all that handling.

Okay, this one is a bit tricky. This blog has a hidden view that graphically shows the cyclical, seasonal nature of this blog. Here's how.