Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
A.E. Housman 1859-1936 - A Shropshire Lad
Late July and the cherries are ripe
Cherry Ripe by John Everett Millais - 1879
via
Penelope Boothby
Millais's Cherry Ripe was loosely based on Joshua Reynolds's portrait of Penelope Boothby whose sad little tale and exquisite marble tombstone I showed here
The refrain Cherry Ripe is thought to have originated as a street trader's cry
Cicely Mary Barker - Cherry Tree Fairy
Cherries are loaded with antioxidants which help to fight disease, very rich in vitamin C, and high in iron
Similarly peaches too are rich in antioxidants along with vitamin C and contain the minerals potassium, fluoride, and iron
William Mason Brown C1880
Cherries and Peaches are featured frequently on paintings. On this link there are 91 paintings of peaches covering more than five centuries.
Both fruits are used as idioms in the English language to express how wonderful everything is - life is 'a bowl of cherries or a peach' - however, when spoken satirically the meaning is the opposite
Peach Conserve
I simply want to enjoy them whilst they are here and once again that easy French recipe comes in so handy
Beautiful fruits and a beautifully written and bought together post! I hope that you are enjoying lots of cherries and peaches and that life is a bowl of cherries and a peach for you! xx
ReplyDeleteThanks Amy - best to make the most of these wonderful fruits whilst they are here and so cheap - I have just made some strawberry ice cream - H will be delighted when he gets home later
DeleteThat looks all very tasty, I love the summer juicy fruits so much. I buy a lot of them at the market. Nice post!
ReplyDeleteWonderful rich spoils of this season - glad that you are enjoying them too
Deletejust beautiful, have a nice week!
ReplyDeleteThank you Paloma - a happy week to you too
DeleteWhat a lovely idea for a post, Rosemary. Cherries are just about my favourite fruit, but they are rarely available here and are expensive. How beautiful to see a cherry tree! And to see the lovely Millais Cherry Ripe, which I always love and haven't seen in ages. I have sung that song, too, in choirs, and it is very enjoyable. The Cherry fairy is fun, rather a tomboy, unlike the usual fairies in tutus :)
ReplyDeleteHello Patricia - isn't it strange the way a post can develop out of the blue? I simply took a photo of the cherries because they looked so beautiful - they are plentiful and cheap this year, and then I got carried away with myself - I love the cherry tree fairy too.
DeleteDear Rosemary, this may be my most favorite post ever, but I have said that before. First there is that fabulous photograph of the bowl of cherries and then the peaches. All so beautifully presented and so expertly photographed.
ReplyDeleteYou are too kind Gina - it was just the fact that the cherries were so beautiful. I had no intention of doing a post, but somehow it evolved.
DeleteThose peaches look so delicious..i love cherries and eat many in summer..
ReplyDeleteThe soft fruits are really plentiful now and we are making the most of it
DeleteI love cherries, but seldomly buy them, too expensive. My husband loves peaches and I buy them for him. The peach painting is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteNormally cherries are expensive here too, but these were reasonable - I wonder why cherries are expensive?
DeleteDear Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteI read your posting and determined to buy myself some cherries today — I like them when they are especially tart. It would be interesting to compile all the songs that have incorporated vendors' cries. I don't know how it is in the U.K., but I can't remember the last time I heard a vendor with such a lyrical cry.
Dear Mark - I do hope that you managed to find some cherries, and that they lived up to your expectations - the only time I hear vendors these days is at the outdoor market, but I would not say that they are lyrical!!!
DeleteBeautiful cherry and peach post, they belong to nice summerdays. I just bought cherries this morning and have peaches on the table too. We love summer fruit, healthy and delicious.
ReplyDeleteThey are a feast for the eye at the moment and I agree healthy and delicious.
DeleteI love peaches. I prefer them from cherry. Your pictures of fruit are very appetizing and would like to eat. Greetings.
ReplyDeleteThe summer is bringing a wonderful bounty and luckily there is much more to come for us to enjoy
DeleteTwo of my favorites - yum!! Those cherries look luscious :) Gimme, gimme!!
ReplyDeleteThe cherries do seem to be spectacular this year, so best to make the most of them
DeleteLove that painting of the peaches, they look so lifelife. I am not that fond of raw cherries and prefer the smooth skin of a nectarine to the fuzz of a peach - but I am partial to cherry pie and peach jam.
ReplyDeleteI made 3lbs of peach jam for a pound as the peaches were so cheap, that can't be bad can it?
DeleteI love your multi-media celebration of cherries and peaches. I can't see a cherry without reciting that first line from Housman, a habit from my father. Enjoy your bountiful harvest! In Maine it is berry season.
ReplyDeleteWe must enjoy and make the most of the season whilst we can, I can't believe that we are nearly into August.
DeleteWow! Lovely pics and harvest, Rosemary! We'll have some cherries too, but they're so sour. Happy gardening!
ReplyDeleteHopefully given some lovely warm sunshine they will turn sweeter for you Satu but you could always cook them instead.
DeleteHello Rosemary,
ReplyDeleteTwo of my favourite fruits and neither are in my kitchen presently. I will be off to market early morning to stock up.
On time whilst visiting Traverse City in Michigan we purchased some grapes which were grown there and they were the best I have ever tasted. I will check You Tube for Cherry Ripe by Charles Edward Horn.
Wishing you a joyful week
Helen xxx
Dear Helen - hope the shopping trip to market is a success - when we taste something special like your grapes the memory lingers long - wishing you a your talented group a great exhibition in Youghal.
DeleteRosemary - I often visit, but do not always comment. Your photo's are so lovely and I love how you bring so many things into your posts.
ReplyDeleteI've always liked Cicely Mary Barker flower fairies.
Thank you for a lovely read.
All the best Jan
Thank you very much Jan for your kind comment. I don't really know quite how this post came about, I certainly did not plan it - it kind of evolved after I photographed the beautiful cherries♡
DeleteI should come here more often...always learn something!
ReplyDeleteThanks.....
How are you?
Cheers!
Linda :o)
Thanks for visiting Linda - hope things have picked up for you and the simply gorgeous little Miss V after your tummy troubles.
DeleteHello dear Rosemary!!
ReplyDeleteVery interesting post!
I like cherries and peaches!!Summer fruits!
Like the paintings!Amazing pictures as always!
A joy for my eyes!!
Have a lovely week ahead!
Dimi...
Hello dear Dimi - thank you for your kind comment - I am pleased that you enjoyed the post - thank you
DeleteRosemary, this post is such a visual feast. Even the three tragic stories (I clicked on your link) offered up such poignant and stunning commemorative art that enriches the soul. You should be on the payroll of the UK tourism board - every time I visit your blog I long to be there in the flesh!
ReplyDeleteYou have made me a smile Wendy, but I do appreciate your comment very much, and am pleased that you enjoyed it. I tend to write and photograph things that give me pleasure and also interest me, and if others enjoy seeing them too then that is a bonus.
DeleteThe stunning bloom is a cherry tree.
ReplyDeleteWonderfully delicious images.
My mind begins to make cherries. :-)
Greeting Liplatus
Thank you Liplatus - the cherries are wonderful this season, hope you find some to enjoy yourself
DeleteCherry pie is my favorite. Your posts are never a disappointment.
ReplyDeleteI like them as they are but do like French cherry clafouti - thanks Janey for your kind comment♡
DeleteHow gloriously fruity..... We live near the Kentish border - cherry land!
ReplyDeleteLucky you - I recall seeing the cherry stalls along Kents roads.
DeleteWhat a lovely and cherry post!
ReplyDeleteHave a great weekend now...
Titti
Thank you dear Titti
DeleteI LOVE cherries particularly the large ones available at the local market (Guisborough).
ReplyDeleteThe bigger the better
DeleteHello Rosemary, The summer fruits (cherries, peaches, nectarines, etc.) have been extraordinary this year. We have even gotten some great black raspberries, a personal favorite, which are often hard to find. Sadly, we missed the sour cherries, which seem to hit the markets only for a day or two.
ReplyDelete--Jim
I do not know the black raspberries Jim - but you are right about the cherries - they appear to have been and gone already
DeleteThere are so many wonderful summer fruit and cherries are one of my favourites and take me instantly back to my childhood. A neighbour used to give me handfuls of black cherries direct from the tree. I saw a huge lumber of apricots a few weeks ago and made your wonderful jam again. It is so easy and tastes so good. Sarah x
ReplyDeleteI have just made some more last night - H was walking on our Common and discovered a wild plum tree. The same recipe has made us some more lovely jam, but plums this time, and as you say so easy.
Delete