Nectarines and Peaches.....................

Yesterday (July 22, 2006) I had the incredible luck (Except for the 108 degree HEAT) to pick very special Nectarines and Peaches from Bradford Farms in Le Grand. The Bradfords (Norman, Audrey and their son Glen) have been nice enough to let my family pick fruit here since back in the 1960's, but I had a big "gap" of over 30 years until last July when I did it once again. I was invited back again this year, and was able to pick fruit from their "breeding grounds" - where they develop new and WONDERFUL varieties of all sorts of fruit (nectarines, peaches, apricots, plums, plum-cots, almonds and cherries). I brought back lots of wonderful red, white, and yellow fleshed nectarines and peaches. They are sweet, juicy, and full of flavor - unlike anything I have ever purchased anywhere. It's fun to have varieties of nectarines and peaches that are not available to the public - they are new "creations", not yet for sale.
Because my favorite nectarines (Bradfords) have always matured in July near my birthday, I consider them a GREAT birthday present each year that I am fortunate enough to pick on their land. I have such good memories of picking them, eating them, and then on my birthday adding them to homemade ice cream! Yum! Lots of good memories.
My only fear is that I will eat too many of these "jewels" - it's hard to stop!