Persimmon The Perfect Tree for All Seasons.(persimmon trees have many advantages, including beauty, fruit, and attraction for birds)

Sitting by our persimmon tree last fall I watched a robin stretch out to peck off a piece of the bright, ripe fruit. Suddenly, the bird lost its footing, yet undaunted it clung like a pitbull to the persimmon. Swinging to and fro below, the robin's resolve paid off when a bit of the fruit tore loose. Now with the prize in its beak, this persistent fellow flew to a safer perch to eat the sweet treat. Not all of the birds in my yard work this hard for persimmons, but almost all relish this wonderful fruit. When our bountiful trees bear, more than thirty species of birds regularly visit to plunder the peckable delectable.

* FAR EAST MEETS WEST

Persimmons originally came from China, spreading in popularity throughout Asia over the centuries. Today, eighty percent of persimmons are still grown in the Far East. By the mid 1800s these exotic trees were introduced into California where the temperate climate proved ideal for cultivation. Considered a Mediterranean fruit, persimmons do best in deep, fertile soil with mild weather. The USDA lists them as suitable for hardiness …