Thursday 3: Backyard Bounty

We have a tree growing in our backyard that wasn't there when we moved in 14 years ago and that I never planted. I recently discovered it is a fig tree. I suspected its identity when I saw the giant leaves, reminiscent of Adam's first clothing. When it started growing the fruit, I actually wasn't that thrilled. We already have a guava tree, and I'm not fond of guavas.

However, my sister made me try the one fig that was ripe, and I sort of liked it. It is one of nature's funkiest looking fruits, I swear. It truly looks like it comes from another planet, but it tastes strangely good.

Anyway, this week's list is three fruits growing in my backyard.

1. The Fig. (See above.)

2. The Guava. (See above.) I regularly give away bags of guavas to my cleaning lady.

3. The Pear. Our pear tree is unreliable. Some years it has no fruit at all, some years, like this one, it's bursting with fruit. My sister recently came and took two bags of pears and made a fabulous pear cobbler that she says is very easy. I told her that it was dangerous because to paraphrase Field of Dreams, if I bake it, they (the pounds of fat) will come (to my hips.)

Do you grow stuff in your backyard?