I almost missed the quince blossom this year, and had to look hard for a few surviving flowers. These were caught two evenings ago in the allotment orchard. I have my own quince tree of course – though scarcely even a treelet as yet. It’s out in the guerrilla garden behind the old privy sheds. Two autumns ago fellow allotmenteer Siegfried gave me several large quinces from the allotment tree. I duly made quince jelly with them and must have saved some of the pips. These I apparently put in a pot of compost and then forgot about them. The pot was outside all winter, buried under another pot. Then last spring when I was tidying up I lifted the top pot and found five tiny plants underneath – ID then unknown. They looked interesting though – i.e. not like weeds, so I kept them. And then I remembered. Quince offspring!
Apart from the one I’ve planted out, I’ve found a good home for another with a chum who says it is thriving, but I still have three small trees in pots. If the mother tree is anything to go by (and it hasn’t been grafted onto dwarf rootstock), then the offspring should not grow too big. Maybe some more guerrilla planting is called for. My treelet is currently ringed by a crowd of columbine heavies, so it’s hard to spot. Anyway, here’s a photo:
And here’s the mother tree:
Randomized gardening can be so rewarding.
Tish Farrell 
fun to find a gem.
How lovely! I fancy a potted crab apple, but a potted quince would be equally pretty I guess. They seem to have grown quickly. I wonder how long before they will flower and fruit? And do you need male and female trees to pollinate?
There’s only a single tree at the allotment, so it must be self-fertile. And yes, how long till offspring flowers?
Is there anything more beautiful than the flowers of the entire family of roses of which I am sure quince is one? Just lovely.
Sarah
Absolutely right, Sarah. All members of the rose family are very beautiful. Quince, so I’ve read, is related to apples and pears; the flowers being roughly twice the size of apple flowers.
Our quince tree has never produced a thing … but continues to grow and we get the occasional blossom.
Hm. Do you know how old it is?
Looks like they need a period of winter chilling to fruit.
I have been told between 9-11 years.
Ooh, lovely!
Thanks, Sue.
I have never seen a quince blossom that I know of.
Brings to mind “They dined on mince, and slices of quince,Which they ate with a runcible spoon;”
Lovely Edward Lear. The runcible spoon has always puzzled me. But then again…
Nonsensical but fun.
I used to think it was “rinseable” spoon and was duly confused.
Lovely blossom and how fab to have five treelets. I feel some days that all my gardening is random.
And there’s absolutely nothing wrong with random. Gardening – however it comes – is good 🙂
So lovely, Tish. You’re a real wizard when it comes to gardening. 🙂
I am taking a bow, Sylvia 🙂
So you should. 👏🏻
I enjoyed seeing photos of people’s gardens, although it generally makes me wish I’d done a lot more in that direction myself. I had done a good job at our house in Ohio and done some work in Illinois, but the desert will be more of a challenge and being in a rental place is different, although here our landlady told us to plant whatever we wanted. But the “earth” here is SO different. 🙂 I bought heirloom tomatoes (to eat) yesterday and my husband mentioned that perhaps we should save some of the seeds and plant them. Could be fun and might work out. We do have two small raised beds that were already here and I’ve bought some real soil to add to them. We’ll see. For now I’m enjoying the beauty of cactus flowers and other desert beauties, even if not grown by me. 🙂
Have a wonderful weekend, Tish.
janet
Saving the seeds is a great idea, Janet. It’s always good to have a go, and raised beds sound ideal. There should lots of dry matter for mulching in the desert and that’s the main thing – keeping moisture in.
Beautiful trees. I don’t think I’ve ever had quince jelly.
Good with roast meat, but also quite nice on toast. A faff to make though – lots of chopping and straining and cooking 🙂
A little elbow grease never hurt anyone.
Hm. Elbow grease and quince jelly – a challenging combo.
Lolz.
Gardening is all about surprises and it is so delightful to find these hidden treasures
You’re right. The surprises are definitely some of the best things in the garden.
It’s such a treat when they survive, isn’t it? 😀
It is!
I have so much randomized gardening as I always give self sown seedlings a chance – ended up with some fabulous delights and real treasures. Such as two oak trees. Still puzzling over where they came from as no oaks within a mile or more!!
How lovely to have unexpected oaks 🙂
Very exciting. Currently in pots aa plan to take them with us, if we ever move!
Love the pleasant surprises like this! And so fun to share one of the saplings with a friend
– I currently have mint containered up for sharing and a few “rose of Sharon” starters – I had this one area near a Henry’s Garnet (can geT so invasive with the roots) but a rose of Sharon used to be next to it –
Took it out and then the following year – about 12 small
Rose of Sharon starters were there – I thought leaving a couple and maybe having this mix of Henry’s Garnet and rose of Sharon – but it was looking scrappy and not a good mix of shrubs –
Anyhow – all that to say that it is so fun to see starters come up and glad
You did not just assume your tree saplings were weeds
–
So much fun in the garden, Yvette. It’s good that it always has surprises up its sleeve.
😊🌱🌿☘️🍀
I chuckled at “guerilla garden” – you have such a way with words, Tish, and with growing & nurturing plants! I am so taken with your allotment stories & all the things that happen, intentionally or otherwise.
Many thanks for coming to my assorted plots, Ju-Lyn. I often wonder what my grandfather would think of my random efforts. He was a head gardener on big estates, and did years of gruelling apprenticeship as an under gardener working at ‘the big house’. I only met him when I was very small, but my main memory is the sight of him (around 80 years old) sieving soil on his vegetable plot with a great big riddle. All very novel to me, but one of those brief moments that embedded.