👋 have been a bit busy with busy things but hope everyone’s ok.

[helenclayton@mas.to]

@IcooIey flowering quince - chaenomeles. I described it as peach but I think more apricot coloured

Are you all thawed now?

[icooiey@mastodon.green]

@helenclayton ooo! There is an Asian quince on campus that is very unhappy and occasionally makes big lumply sort of pear shaped rock hard fruits. But I don’t think I’ve ever seen the flowers. These are very pretty and a welcome sight!

[lionelb@expressional.social]

@IcooIey @helenclayton

Despite their ugliness, they make a very perfumed jelly.

[icooiey@mastodon.green]

@helenclayton All snow melted where the sun hits except for the high piled snow banks. My winter aconite made an appearance in the one sunny bed!

[icooiey@mastodon.green]

@lionelb @helenclayton I have heard this! The one tree I know only makes two or three fruits (it is very unhappy) so I’ve never tried to harvest them.

[helenclayton@mas.to]

@IcooIey @lionelb I had fruit on mine last year but failed to do anything with them.

[helenclayton@mas.to]

@IcooIey yay happy flowers!

[colesstreetpothole@weatherishappening.network]

@helenclayton @IcooIey Oooh. Does the flowering quince provide edible fruits?

[helenclayton@mas.to]

@ColesStreetPothole @IcooIey well this one does

[colesstreetpothole@weatherishappening.network]

@helenclayton @IcooIey We may have to consider it as a possible addition to our garden.

[helenclayton@mas.to]

@ColesStreetPothole @IcooIey a colleague made quince paste with hers but it sounded like she slaved over it. I decided that what with the abundance of apples I had, life was too short. Maybe another time.

[colesstreetpothole@weatherishappening.network]

@helenclayton @IcooIey Right now the only fruiting trees we have are pawpaw, and they produce only about ten fruits, all ripe in the same week. Gooseberries aren't taking too well. Raspberries are sparse. The quince looks pretty, and from what I've read might do well where we are, so I might give it a try.

We'd use them for salads, put in our oatmeal, and maybe make pies/compotes/preserves if they really take off.