Quince

The first time I saw quince in flower and subsequently in fruit was when visiting our oldest son at Oxford University. It was growing against the sunny wall below a window. I knew of the quince because it was the fruit eaten, sliced, with a runcible spoon, by the owl and the pussycat in Edward Lear's poem of the same name. As we have moved, over the years, from the north of England to the south west of the country, we have seen more quince, in flower and in fruit, due to the more equable climate. The quince above, a flowering variety (Chaenomeles japonica), was in full flower in Herefordshire in the last week of February, the blooms appearing before the leaves, a mass of red growing on a fence.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon D5300

Japanese quince

Japanese quince (Chaenomeles japonica) is a flowering shrub that we have grown in a few of the gardens of the houses in which we have lived. It's the sort of plant that can look great or can look a straggly mess. Ours have tended to the latter. I particularly like Japanes quince that is grown against a wall and that's something we have never done. I've also noticed that the further south you travel in England the better the plant grows, particularly if it is planted in a location that is sheltered and sunny. A setting with these qualities also make it more likely to bear fruit and gives the grower the chance to make quince jelly. This plant is growing in Herefordshire as part of a hedge that receives plenty of light and is relatively sheltered. The number of flowers it is bearing this year is remarkable.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100