Tree whisperer, pruning and propagating maestro, and the artist behind our intricately espaliered trees. ⁠Meet oom Anton Roux. ⁠ ⁠ At 83 years young, he is a jewel in our garden crown with his infinite wisdom on heritage fruit trees, especially.⁠ Here, he marvels at the oft-misunderstood mispal or medlar.⁠ .⁠ ⁠ 🔶 ⁠Medlar trees were one of the first fruit trees planted by Jan van Riebeeck and his crew in the 1600s. ⁠ ⁠ 🔶 They were a popular choice before modern, hybrid pome fruit trees such as apples, as they bore fruit in the colder months and offered food when all other fruit crops were dormant. ⁠ ⁠ 🔶 The fruit can only be eaten after bletting – a process of softening that allows the fruit to go beyond ripening.⁠ ⁠ You can view the fruit during autumn in the walkway by the chicken and duck coops.⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #babylonstoren #franschhoek #capewinelands #farmlife #winecountry #gardening #gardentotable #farmtotable #simonsberg #thisissouthafrica #growyourown #pickandeat #gardenlife #lovegardening #instagarden #greenfinger #planting #horticulture #medlar