My favourite nursery rhyme of all is 'I had a little nut tree' about the tree that bears 'a silver nutmeg and a golden pear' because I loved (and still love) the image it conjures up in my mind, although recently my illusions have been shattered by the discovery that the rhyme is about far more than the fruit of a magic tree.
Anyway, I think of that tree every October when I see the branches of our quince tree bending over under the weight of what can only be described as truly golden fruit. Not just golden, in fact, but positively glowing.
Every year, as if enchanted, it produces masses of fuzzy, sweet-smelling, medieval-style fruit. It matters not that I have photographed quinces and written about them every year I've been writing a blog. It has now become an act of faith to do so. So here I am, celebrating our magic tree because that is what I do in October.
I have never eaten a quince, but after your descriptions and pictures, I should would love to try one. It's so wonderful that your tree produces such wonderful fruit, I love the metal basket you photographed them in. What do you do with all your quinces?
Posted by: Jennifer | October 20, 2009 at 15:36
We wouldn't have it any other way Jane, they are well worth celebrating. Your quince photographs always bring such a welcome burst of colour amidst the grey.
Posted by: Rebecca | October 20, 2009 at 16:00
I'm so jealous - I live in london and I don't know where to buy quince!
My family is from Cyprus, and they use quince a lot in their cookery - my mum makes amazing jam, and preserved whole fruit, and she often puts halved quince into a tray of roasting potatoes and apples. mmm!
Posted by: Helena | October 20, 2009 at 16:01
Beautiful! I can almost catch their fragrance from the photos. Every October your images make me seek out quinces from the local markets. Thanks for the lovely reminder.
Posted by: mesclun | October 20, 2009 at 16:12
Quince Jelly yummy! They sell Quince in the local farmers market and I always buy some!
Posted by: Julie | October 20, 2009 at 16:58
I was wondering when we'd see the quinces!
Posted by: Kristin | October 20, 2009 at 17:08
Lovely--but are you going to explain what the nursery rhyme REALLY means? I need to know!
Posted by: dangermom | October 20, 2009 at 18:12
Why mess with a winning formula? Johnny is learning that rhyme at school this week (but without the back story methinks).
Posted by: Ali | October 20, 2009 at 18:30
And as expected in October your beautiful pictures of that golden fruit! How beautiful!
Posted by: Carla (from Alabama) | October 20, 2009 at 18:36
The quinces look quite unreal. Perfect.
I also love the nursery rhyme and used to act it out in the garden when I was small. It's quite a sad little tale really...
Posted by: Rattling On | October 20, 2009 at 18:51
I didn't know that rhyme meant anything else?!!
Posted by: paintdropskeepfalling.wordpress.com | October 20, 2009 at 19:57
Because of your beautiful, magical tree, I searched out quince and made a very special sauce. We loved it. This was back in the day of your first quince photograph. Thank you, always, for your inspiration!
Posted by: Tamara | October 20, 2009 at 20:08
I too have a magical quince tree, but am quite unsure what to do with all these lovely fruits. Any suggestions, or favorite recipes?
Thanks!
Posted by: Annette | October 20, 2009 at 22:44
Your quinces look so perfect, at first glance I thought they were pears! I am used to the nobbly quinces that grow wild along the river at my parent's place, but I'm sure they smell just the same - gorgeous.
Posted by: catherine | October 20, 2009 at 23:21
Your photos transport me back to the house where I was a nanny for several years. Quinces grew in the garden and their scent is a scent of autumn to me. I used recipes from Jane Grigson's Good Things; especially Sir Isaac Newton's Baked Quinces.
Posted by: Fran | October 21, 2009 at 00:31
I always look forward to your quince post each year.
Posted by: suse | October 21, 2009 at 05:10
I too used to love that nursery rhyme but I am intrigued by the hidden meaning. Can you elaborate or point us in the dirction of the meaning?
Posted by: Karen | October 21, 2009 at 07:57
I made my annual batch of lovely, aromatic quince jelly last week. Each year it comes out a slightly different, jewel colour. A feast for several senses. I base my recipe on a recipe from the wonderful Home Preservation of Fruit and Vegetables published by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food - bought by my husband in 1970, and itself a rewrite of a government pulbication in 1929. Now a gloriously grubby, dog-eared, much loved book in this home.
Posted by: DeborahS | October 21, 2009 at 08:19
I made a wonderful Quince mince from Deborah Madison's Local Flavors (yes, I am from the States) a few years ago, when I had quince available.
If you can't find the recipe, I can repost it after work
Posted by: Catherine | October 21, 2009 at 13:06
I have a small garden, so no quince tree but discovered them about 5 years ago in the local farmers' market. The scent just blew me away. (Forget the Lynx ads... If young men used quince-scented aftershave I'd follow them blindly anywhere!!)
I used the Good Housekeeping recipe for jelly and, like Deborah, I find that the colour varies each year. This year I also added about 1lb of quince to 2lb of damsons and made jam. The mellowness of the quince counteracts the sharpness of the damsons and the taste and texture are wonderful.
So, each October, it's the anticipation, the aroma, the colour, the texture and all the gorgeous things you can make with them. I admit it...I'm hooked.
Posted by: mindfulbeader | October 22, 2009 at 10:31
I was thinking of ordering some quinces with my veg box next week. Have you got any good recipe suggestions? x
Posted by: PinkCat | October 22, 2009 at 12:07
And I always comment about how much I adore quince.
Posted by: Luisa Perkins | October 22, 2009 at 16:05
Pretty photos!
Posted by: geek+nerd | October 27, 2009 at 22:04