We've all done it as kids haven't we, grabbed fruit off the neighbours property as we walk past. After all they have a whole big tree of fruit to themselves don't they? Well not in my case. The Feijoa tree I'm writing about was growing on the property when we bought it about 8 years ago. It was planted next to the drive in a rather silly place and fair game I hear some of you say but wait.........there's more.
My Hubby wanted to chop it down and I wanted it to stay. I have never had a feijoa tree that has matured and produced fruit. The tree did look a bit scraggly I have to admit and hubby took the chainsaw to it, thinking this would be the end, but the tree had other ideas. It started to grow and I was delighted. Hubby threw the cold ashes from the fire around the base of the tree, thinking that the corner in which it was growing was a rubbish site. But you know that tree grew lots of lovely new leaves and branches and when I checked it for fruit there were about a dozen small fruit growing there. Imagine my excitement! Now there was one particularly large fruit that I was particularly excited about and waiting for it to ripen and well you guessed it................
Somebody Stole My Feijoa
Somebody stole my feijoa
It was growing on the tree
It was big and bold and beautiful
And ripening just for me
The tree is in an awkward spot
Right beside the drive
And after giving it a massive prune
The tree began to thrive
The fruit were hanging lusciously
Tempting and delicious
But the neighbourhood kids had hatched a plan
That was naughty and malicious
We saw them eying up the tree
And run off with some fruit
So hubby ran out after them
Scolding them to boot
They apologised sincerely
With manners so polite
But what do you know, they came back
And pinched some in the night
My lovely big fejoa
I was waiting till it was ripe
I left it to grow and ripen
Not for them to swipe
I can only hope it was bitter
And gave them a bellyache
So that they learn a lesson
Ask before you take!
Copyright Jann Rau
The same thing has happened to me although the thieves were possums, it's absolutely gutting! I now remove the fruit just before it's completely ripe and ripen it inside myself!
ReplyDelete