We’ve covered a fair amount of the neglected or hidden edibles, but this one managed to hide in plain sight for a while. I noticed it when we drove past one of these trees recently and Aub and I came to the conclusion that it was red berry season.

Deciding to investigate it a bit further than the most base of observations, I found one again and was able to figure out that it is a Kousa Dogwood. It’s actually quite common, as it is a disease-resistant substitute for the American Dogwood. These particular trees are located on Ashford-Dunwoody Road along Blackburn Park. The fruit is a pleasant novelty, and tastes peachy. And as of September 2nd, there are still loads of unripe fruits on the trees there. Stop by and grab some.

Chris enjoying some cider as he grinds apples in our pedal-powered grinder

Well, it seems like the season has just begun, but we’re putting the word out here early so yall can make it: Ciderfest the Sixieth is happening this Octobruary the Sixteenthty. For all the apples and pears and weird stuff that we aren’t able to donate, we cut it up, freeze it, and turn it to delicious juice! Bring the family and come celebrate a great fruit picking season with us! More details are available at our official invite page.

Recently spotted at Briarcliff and Clifton. This passionfruit relative is easy to come by, but actual edible fruit is rare. If anyone can find one with actual fruit/seeds, I want it big time. You will be crowned ruler of the concrete jungle in honor.

Anyone have an idea of what this is? We found it last weekend while picking apples.

After writing this post and describing what it is, I suddenly have a strong inkling of what it might be. I submit to you exhibit A, an illustration of the Olea europaea, also known as the olive:

Trooper of a tree at North Druid Hills and 85. Apple/Crabapple hybrid.

So this is one of the times of year when I become a really distracted driver and biker. Now that things are flowering, I’m trying to spot fruit trees everywhere I go. I’m late to everything, I take really roundabout routes, and I go up a bunch of hills and down a bunch of dead ends.

In short, I’m living the dream: getting to wander around the urban orchard, check up on the crops, and see which trees were spared by winter and chainsaw alike. In the past week alone we’ve had flying dragon, peaches, pears, blueberries and apples all come to flower, and many other things as well I’m sure.

And so far it seems like we only lost two native persimmons and the top half of a great apple tree. Not too bad. As you may know, apples are very near and dear to us here at Concrete Jungle, and the rest of them are out in full force to make up for our losses. If that’s any indication of how much fruit we can expect, it’s going to be a great year for fruit. Look forward to having you along with us.

The owner of this tree says it makes nothing but horse apples. We’re not sure what those are, but we’re pretty excited about them.

I’m going to take a guess and figure that you already know it’s spring.

But I really wanted to wait to formally announce such news until I could find the first fruit tree to flower, and I think this is it: a beautiful quince tree in full bloom near Emory. It’s the only one I know of in all of Atlanta.

Of course with mulberries going to fruit in just a month, it’s hard to imagine that they’re not the first to flower, but I can only go by what I see with mine eyes.

Hopefully when these quincies are nearing ready in a good 6 months or so we’ll have figured out what to do with em. My fingers are crossed that we’ll be able to employ a few towards making a proper compote, with such desires being in no way influenced by my love of the word compote.

Compote. Commmmmmpote.

Hey folks…we’re going to be at Atlanta Local Food Initiative’s Incredible Edit Fruit Tree sale this coming Saturday, January 23rd. Stop by, say hello and talk maypops, pawpaws and mayhaws with us!

Maaaannnnnn! I didn’t even know pomegranates grew here, and I just happened to drive by a beautiful 60-year old tree that was full of weird-looking apples. This was a wonderful and very generous donation, and we’re thrilled to get it!

We’re going back on Sunday to pick some black walnuts and hopefully a few more pomegranates, so you should come along!

Short of making our own acorn flour, prickly pears are probably about as fringe as we can get for things that grow readily in Atlanta.

Well, that, or eating the actual green cactus pads.

I once had some delicious licor de tuna (prickly pear liquor) from the heart of Mexico, and it was supremely delicious: sweet without being overwhelming, and a unique, pleasant taste.

Such is always the curse of high hopes, as prickly pears we’ve found growing in Atlanta to be less then supremely delicious, with a taste somewhere between a beet and a cucumber. Perfectly edible of course, but it doesn’t do a whole lot to make you want to keep eating it. And since it is covered in tiny thorns that can be carried by the wind to your most delicate of extremities, the fruit is actually in solid negative territory right now.

We’re hoping that the fruits we picked were simply not fully ripe, but we don’t really know. Do you?

20 lbs of nice, fat little native persimmons. We don’t need no Fuyu or Hachiya to get down in A-town (not that we’d turn them away). Diospyros virginiana all the way. Yeah…

These little fellows were growing out in Tucker, GA at a car repair shop. A fellow there talked our ear off about topics far and wide, and was in love with persimmon bread. Our recipe unfortunately ended up tasting like spice cake and had no resemblance to anything with fruit in it.

Anyone got some good persimmon recipes? They’re delicious as is, but this dude really sold us on the bread. In his words, it’ll make you wanna slap your grandma, which I think is good.