I like the idea of being called Peach Blossom. Not me, personally, of course as I don't exactly fit the Peach Blossom bill, but I can imagine a young girl deciding that this is her name for a summer. Or maybe my niece will use it for Orange Pastel Tree's sister (Orange Pastel Tree being her first choice girl's name).
Now I don't always (well, not all the time) go around thinking that Peach Blossom is a pretty name. It's just that I came across some beautiful peach blossom in the greenhouses at West Dean Gardens at the weekend. Like the walled garden in which they stand, these greenhouses are immaculate and maintained according to traditional and very correct methods. So they look nothing like the average greenhouse and even when they contain just pots and pots of salad leaves and vegetables (as one greenhouse does at the moment) they look absolutely spectacular.
I've never seen peach blossom (or even a Peach Blossom) before and was fascinated by the delicate pink flowers and the meticulous and elegant way in which the gardeners have carefully trained the branches to fan out.
The slender branches, the new leaves and the pink flowers all look particularly stunning against the pure white wall.
Whether you see it close up or from a distance, it would make a lovely series of fabric designs. Peach Blossom would then be able to wear a dress in 'Peach Blossom' as she and Orange Pastel Tree enjoy lazy, summer days.
Thank you for posting these! We Albertans are still looking at snow-covered gardens.
Posted by: Eva Radford | March 26, 2009 at 17:41
Gorgeous!
Posted by: Becky | March 26, 2009 at 17:42
Growing up in the 1960's in the Central Valley of California, there were hundreds of acres of peaches. It was heavenly when they bloomed - a beautiful pink as far as the eye could see. At night, you could stand outside and smell their sweet scent. Thanks for helping me remember!
Posted by: Barbara | March 26, 2009 at 17:45
Lovely!
Posted by: Cornflower | March 26, 2009 at 18:02
These are pretty pictures. I have never seen a peach blossom up close.
The third picture from the top appears to have a "genie" in the background. I enalarged the picture and discovered that it was a tag that says, 'Peaches Hales Early.' That was kind of funny; I thought maybe you could get three wishes while viewing the peach blossoms.
Posted by: Carla (from Alabama) | March 26, 2009 at 18:29
Delicious! I spy a peach blossom quilt..?
Posted by: The Antidote | March 26, 2009 at 18:41
i've always enjoyed the associate with a georgia peach...
peaches and cream skin...
that kind of thing.
beautiful pics!
Posted by: skooots1mom | March 26, 2009 at 19:34
In the glasshouse where I grew up, the peach tree was grown not against the back wall, but against the front glass "slope" of the glasshouse. The tree was netted, with strips of netting which overlapped so that the peaches fell when ripe into the netting, and could be gathered through the "unstitched seams" in the nets. Thus no peach was ever picked unripe. Their flavour was incomparable.
Posted by: ctussaud | March 26, 2009 at 21:27
Lovliness indeed. My first thought was almond blossom, they are quite similar, but I think peach blossom slightly edges out almond blossom in beauty and colour.
Posted by: Jayne H. | March 26, 2009 at 22:31
We planted a small, young peach tree in our front yard when we lived in California. We didn't live there long enough to see it get any taller than I am, but its blossoms were just as beautiful, and I'd forgotten how nice those long, slender leaves are. It even bore fruit that first year. Not anything big or juicy enough to eat, but it was a good start for such a young tree! I hope it's still there, and that whoever lives there now enjoys it as much as we did. Flowers in the desert. :-)
Posted by: Sasha | March 26, 2009 at 22:51
The first two photos are very japanese, I think. Lovely flowers!!
I'm from Tokyo and looking forward to seeing full of cherry blossom here too.
Posted by: Kazumi | March 27, 2009 at 05:09
That tree reminds me of my own favorite flowering tree, the sweet olive. I think that's what it's called. Tiny white flowers with an unbelievably delicious, delicate, orangey scent.
Posted by: Lizbon | March 27, 2009 at 06:35
Beautiful!
Posted by: Lindsay | March 27, 2009 at 08:31
When I was growing up on a southern Ontario apple orchard, one of the delights of spring was blossom time when the two peach trees on a hill visible from our house looked like prettily blushing apple trees!
Posted by: GrannyPurple | March 27, 2009 at 12:06
Lovely photos and pretty names!
Children have the most wonderful ideas!
Posted by: Fiona | March 27, 2009 at 12:08
Gorgeous. My son wanted to call his little sister "Rainbow Beautiful", we settled for Rainbow for her middle name.
Posted by: Georgia | March 27, 2009 at 12:18
What a great name Peach Blossom would be! My little girl is called Mabel Blossom, and she certainly loves her name :)
Posted by: Annabel Wynne | March 27, 2009 at 13:35
Miss Happiness, Miss Flower, and Little Peach.
Posted by: Korinthe | March 27, 2009 at 15:01
The photos are very striking and remind me of apple blossoms. A lovely reminder that spring blooms will be coming in a month or so over here.
Posted by: Lucette | March 27, 2009 at 15:11
It reminds me a little of ikebana.
Posted by: bethgem | March 27, 2009 at 15:12
How lovely! I am still waiting for spring to arrive to my part of the world.
Posted by: Victoria | March 27, 2009 at 17:09
i live in the states
miles of peach orchards
in bloom in the carolinas
and in ga are worth the trip
cherry blossom time in
washington dc happy spring
Posted by: elizabeth a airhart | March 27, 2009 at 23:05
Both this post and the one before made me giggle. You conjured up delightful images of these teo sisters pehaps my childhood favourite Jasmine Pearl could join them. (My real daughter although delightful, is most definately not a jasmine pearl!)
Posted by: dette | March 28, 2009 at 02:10
So wonderful to delight in the spring of your world, compared to the still snow covered spring of mine!
Good job on the jewellery! Now I know that's not one thing to bring home thinking it's an easy thing to do!!!!
Posted by: Captain Momma | March 28, 2009 at 03:40
Oh these pictures would make absolutely the most amazingy fabric designs!! Especially the very last one, the play on light and dark is fab!
Posted by: aneela | March 28, 2009 at 10:19
The second time I have seen photos of peach blossoms!! And they are so beautiful. Sort of the same shape as apple blossoms, but the colour is so very different!!
Posted by: Judy | March 28, 2009 at 15:46
Several years ago I visited a lovely botanical garden that convinced me to grow a lot of fruit trees that were all espaliered like this. Truly lovely. (And, no, I never did this.)
Posted by: Amy in Loozyana | March 28, 2009 at 18:04
I always enjoy your blog, but now I find myself watching to see spring that is at least four-five weeks (maybe more?) ahead of us here in Massachusetts!
Thanks for the beautiful pictures.
Posted by: dee | March 29, 2009 at 14:58
What pretty blossoms! Happy
Posted by: Alleigh | April 02, 2009 at 16:54