Persimmons, Diospyros virginiana, Henlopen Park

This is a little different circle, not Rolandvue, not Bellona, but the bike trail circuit touching Rehoboth Beach, Lewes, and Gordon Pond.  The puzzle initially was the fruit from the trees at Silver Lake, bordering on spoiled, bright orange but still a little tart.

Inquiring locally and at Charm City Farm, the suggestion was to wait for the first frost, almost a dark appearance to the fruit when it would be sweeter.  Someone made the analogy to ice wine. Persimmons should be a winter harvest. All the fruit along that bike path will be dropped by the frost.  Some of the lower fruit will be browsed by deer.  Coincidentally persimmons were available commercially, larger and bright  orange to yellow, not dark.

The difference may be species specific.  Commercial fruit is usually asiatic varieties.  The native virginiana persimmons may be the ones best taken later. The actual identification of the persimmons along the bike route is unknown.  The Silver Lake probably were planted and likely were asian.  A wind storm with salt spray the week before might also have caused the fruit to drop early. The trees in Henlopen Park may be native, upper fruit sparse but intact.

By history persimmon was eaten in a steamed pudding, possibly balancing some fruit harvested early.

Rumor has it that there is a persimmon along Rolandvue but I have yet to find it.

The photos show the fruit and the leaves of the Silver Lake tree, deeply furrowed park and sparse leaves in early October.