We picked the Purple Heart plums today. They are purple-skinned with deep purple flesh and are of the highest quality fresh eating. They are excellent. Unlike the somewhat larger, rounder Black Ice, nothing is known about their pedigree or even their correct identity. The story goes that a fellow introduced the plum to the famous fruit breeder, Elwin Meader. Elwin grew the plum out and, once it fruited, realized that he had been given a winner. Unfortunately, he was never able to track down the fellow who gave it to him. That person disappeared into the fog of orchard obscurity. But the plum itself has lived on to become famous among connoisseurs. Was it a seedling? Was it another cultivar? It was Elwin who named it, and the name is fitting. It definitely has a purple heart. Thanks to whoever it was!

We also did some watering today of some of the companions in the orchard. It’s been really dry. We would be happy with a few days of rain.