Sunday, January 9, 2011

Romancing the Durian

Do you still remember the great fun we had trying to guess what these tiny green berries were? 

And then more clues were given to help you figure out?

Finally the amazing secrets were revealed to much awe and gasps!

But before people went crazy over the fruit, a warning and caution were issued.

We were then introduced to the Queen of fruits, in case things got too hot.




Now let's revisit this subject and look at the progress in the development of The King of Fruits. (Due to the frequent interruptions of normal posting, the following is not in real time but about a month behind).


This is a good time to enter a durian orchard (apart from when the fruits actually drop, of course).

As you take a walk around the orchard your senses are awaken by the sweet aroma permeating the air. It is not unlike you walking in a botanical garden of blooming lavender or roses. 

The scent of the durian flowers is really nice - sweet and refreshing -   not like the smell of its fruit at all.


The 'berries' had burst open







Exposing the stamen (anthers and filaments)


After pollination the petals and other parts
drop to the ground

Where proper pollination had taken place young fruits are formed;
Minute spikes which later become thorns are visible

For a full description of flower parts and the pollination process go here. If you have children or grandchildren studying fifth grade biology, of if you yourself would like to recall what you learned (or missed) in your biology class, it's worth a visit.

Will keep you posted as the King of Fruits develop further.

41 comments:

Faith said...

How pretty! It's lovely to walk near an orchard in bloom, all the fragrance hanging in the air. It's kind of like being in a big bouquet.

~Faith

Kittie Howard said...

While on holiday, I couldn't always access Blogville, so let it go and am now catching up. I went back into your posts. Grandpa, my deepest consolences. The Hawaiians have an expression (roughly translated) that says one must cry until the tears no longer fall. We can't get to be this age without things happening, so I learned that this was true for me. In Macedonia I learned they believed in Pushti go: Let it go, release it. Please don't think that you will lose us if you share...we're all here for you.

And what was the name of that fruit, please? I couldn't find that post.

Far Side of Fifty said...

Very interesting..I have never been anyplace that Durian has been growing..nor have I tasted it..thanks for the comment over on my blog:)

The Blogger Formerly Known As said...

What lovely flowers, Grandpa. One can almost smell them, seeing these pictures.

Denise Covey said...

Those pics are glorious grandpa. What a wonder nature is! All that beauty! Pity you can't transmit the smell to us as well.

I read your previous post. I'm glad to see you are getting back on track, but you are allowed to grieve. Taking more time with the grandkids will help!

Denise

John said...

Hi Grandpa, what lovely photo`s of a very attractive plant. Ofcourse, here in the U.K. we don`t have anything like it, unless you have a hot greenhouse!
J
Follow me at HEDGELAND TALES

Serena Lewis said...

I've heard a lot about durian but have never tried it and not sure I want to. lol My Mum lived in Malaya for a time and still speaks of the stink and delicious flavours of durian all rolled into one....an enigma of nature?

Lovely pictures...I'm looking forward to hearing more.

Su said...

Very cool! I haven't had any growing things of my own for so long; it's nice to see your gardens!

Chicken Wrangler said...

Those flowers are amazing! Great photos!

Grandpa said...

Hi everyone, yes I'm back!

I'm sorry I only managed to response to only a couple of comments in my last post, as after that ...whooosh! we were teleported and disappeared into the statosphere!

But you know I appreciate your company and your comments, as always.

I'm glad to be back, and to be with you again.

Grandpa said...

Faith, yes it is a nice, healthy feeling - scented fresh air and wind blowing...


Kittie, thanks for being here. No prob, I know you've been travelling.
I did what the Hawaiian saying said, then decided to move on, and here I am. Thanks for the reassurance.
I think you are referring the durian.


Far Side of Fifty, welcome to The Farm. You should try some!


Blogger Formerly Known As...,
Small Farm girl - Thank you!

Wan Sharif said...

Bila nok ajok gi makan buah nie?..
Droyan dah berbungei.. Ha..ha..

Grandpa said...

L'Aussie, thanks Denise! I appreciate your concern and thoughtful words. I'll let you have some durians if you pass this way!


John Saunders, thanks John. I was involved in quite a number of greenhouses when I worked in England, but none of them could take a 40 metre tree!


Serena, I think you should give it another go. I'll be happy to show you around and let you sample a variety of our fruits if you can make your way here... :)

Grandpa said...

Su, thanks! Don't worry you'll have plenty of time to pot around. That's what I tell my children too.


Chicken Wrangler, thank you, good to see you again.

Grandpa said...

Wan, fruit should drop by March. No prob, can have durian fiesta by the river while listening to the birds sing...leave me your contact - I'll call you

Naz in Norway said...

Salam Grandpa,
I have never seen nor smell durian flowers ever. And they are so beautiful too!
Can we come and visit in the summer? The kids would love it.

Akelamalu said...

It's quirky that the blossom of the Durian smells so sweet yet the fruit stinks isn't it?

Grandpa said...

Wu'alaikumussalam Naz, you are more than welcome. You know all my life (almost) now is dedicated to children. Summer means?


Akelamalu, I wouldn't say the fruit stinks, but rather smells different. But like beauty, smell I guess is in the nose of the beholder. It is strong, no doubt about that.

Vodka Logic said...

Very cool.. great photos too.

Grandpa said...

Vodka Logic, thank you!

the wanderer [bernard] said...

missed you, grandpa. these flowers are such beauty. love is such beauty. remaining centered in your prayers is such beauty. everything is always here, it just changes form.

secret agent woman said...

The flowers of that are really beautiful.

Happy Frog and I said...

Hi Grandpa, thanks for commenting on my blog. I really enjoyed your post, very informative. I like learning new things. :-)

Grandpa said...

the wanderer, hi, good to see you again! Comforting words... I like all things beautiful, for Keats is right when he says A thing of beauty is a joy forever...


secret agent woman, thank you!


Happy Frog and I, it is always a pleasure to visit your blog. Thanks for stopping by. And thank you for the compliments

erica and christy said...

Not only has it been a long time since my last visit, but I had no idea we'd never followed you!!!! Sorry! I fixed that tonight! I absolutely love the pics you posted. The close up of the flowers were my fave this time! Christy

Grandpa said...

Hi Christy, and I thought you've been following all this while as I do see you here every now and then. Thank you for actually following now! I'm glad you like those pics

Ohiofarmgirl said...

Hi Grandpa! I'm standing here watching our snow but soaking in the sun from your pix! Have a great day!

Grandpa said...

Ohiofarmgirl, Hi OFG! Oh dear, still snowing huh.. Here's hoping that the sunshine and warmth from miles across the ocean reaches you...

Samantha Vérant said...

The flowers are quite beautiful! I wasn't expecting that!

Grandpa said...

Samantha Verant, yes they are, aren't they? Thanks for dropping by, and also for your comment in my previous post.

Grandpa said...

Dear all, I'm very pleased that this post is well-received and had created some awareness about this unique tropical fruit.

All of you like the beautiful flowers, and never imagine them to come from (or more accurately to give birth to) such a fruit. I guess it's nature's way of balancing what will be a robust and thorny fruit with not so agreeable scent.

You are not alone. Even the locals, and most orchard owners for that matter, are not aware of such beautiful and sweet smelling flowers. They just wait for the end of the season when the fruits start dropping before stepping foot on the farms!

The fruits will ripen and start to drop 100 days from flower opening (or anthersis, as I call it). If we take that to be the 12th of December, then the first fruit should drop on the 25th of March.

Thank you all again for your comments!

Naturegirl said...

Grandpa a very interesting post showing us the flower form from seed to blossom! Mother Nature fascinates!Thank you for following me in the desert!hugs

Marnie said...

Amazing photos and explanation. Thanks for your kind words over at my blog :0)

Grandpa said...

Marnie, welcome to The Farm! Thank you for your comment and follow. I enjoyed your informative and interesting posts.

Anonymous said...

Amazing!! Wow! those durian flowers are really beautiful. And this is the first time I'm seeing them. I can't wait for durian season. Funny how I used to loathe this fruit when I first arrived in Malaysia. :D

Grandpa said...

Naturegirl, welcome back Anna! I enjoyed the scenery in the wide open space with blue sky in the desert.


Andrea Wh@tever, I think durian is a bit like cheese to Asians - you need to know them to love them. Will keep some for you, take note of the ETA above,k

Anny said...

glorious, glorious durian, i'm crazy about it. whenever i visited a town/city and it is durian season i will make it a point to taste it... my childhood dream is to own a durian tree ;)

Joanna St. James said...

Hey Grandpa do you know what a guanabana is?

Grandpa said...

Anny,ok you are my kind of girl...durian lover! I am willing to let you adopt one of my trees to make your dream come true, how about that?


Joanna, I'm afraid I don't. Let me know once you've found out, k?

Ohiofarmgirl said...

just swingin' by to smell the flowers and say my hello's
:-)

Grandpa said...

Ohiofarmgirl, Hi OFG! I'm always happy to see you! Hope you are enjoying Baby Barnee's blue egg...:))