The surprise tree in our garden is definitely a plum. The first fruit are just starting to ripen into the most beautiful red. I ate the first one as I took these photos, and they have sweet yellow flesh.

The branches are loaded, so we are not going to be short of fruit in the next few weeks. (I wonder if I can give some away to jam-making friends?)

We’ve had another garden surprise as well. A couple of weeks ago I noticed that an unassuming little stick of a tree has begun growing a few peaches.

I’m actually not overly fond of eating peaches due to the fuzz factor, but it’s still exciting! I can always peel them! Peaches are probably the most adorable fruit there is.

There’s a tree in our new yard, completely covered with lichen, that we were assuming was probably dead. We first saw this house in early winter, and it’s always been bare. Today I was outside and realised that it is simply covered with blossom, and sprouting new leaves!

I think it might be a plum tree. How exciting! I can’t wait to see what other surprises might be in our garden.

We also have a few freesias popping up around the front of the house. I was already planning to plant a swathe of them next autumn, as I love the scent and they seem to naturalize well in the Auckland climate, so I’m pleased to find they must be happy in our soil. Some of my more ambitious gardening plans will have to wait until we can afford to have some serious landscaping and drainage work done, but the freesias are readily achievable.