In spite of having moved several times (a practise I am in the process of changing: would like the experience of ‘permanent’ roots) I have lived mostly in the same neighbourhood (Fernwood!) since being drawn to Victoria fourteen years ago. Part of the charm of community is not only discovering the location of urban harvests but anticipating their appearance each season. Two street-side cherry trees were tandem treasures for years, both dark red, one small, one large, the latter I think a Bing. Then, last year, they both got hugely pruned so I must wait on their regrowth that will offer the fruit at a low enough level for me to again pick. This year the birds were ‘in heaven’ with no human competition. Blackberries are in abundance at the moment and the bushes at Fisherman’s Wharf are stretchably handy (out of my area, yes, but worth the trek to feel like a tourist amongst the real tourists at Barb’s Fish and Chips and have an oyster burger between the appetizer of blackberries and the dessert of blackberries). Several trees along Fernwood lean heavily on the high hedge lining the street and droop plums for any passersby to pick and enjoy. By midday the sun has turned some into warm sweet juice receptacles and all a person need do is bite a small hole and sip. Oh – and I must mention that I am sure other present day Johnny Appleseed snackers toss the pits or seeds onto likely looking earth and hope new trees will result. Superb apples await in the wings – I look forward muchly to a certain heritage one that gives me ‘an apple a day’ for weeks as I pass by on my morning bike ride: a Norfolk beefing, I think it is called, the English having thusly translated the French beau fine. But the pear tree I frequent surprised me with several pears on the road this morning. I was not expecting fruit this early and thus not looking up into the tree so the ‘road spill’ was a most welcome alert. They are green and firm and delicious. They will ripen to a softer texture and are sweeter in a different way but I much prefer them in this initial readiness. There is an abundance of fruit hanging heavily this year on that tree so I prolonged my acknowldegment and admiration and gratitude. It should keep me in pears until the apples are ready.