Spring Citrus

This weekend the children and I made a long awaited trip to the Natural Gardener, our inspiring local organic nursery. Last Thursday the nursery newsletter announced the arrival of the spring shipment of citrus trees. Incredibly, there was a solitary Meyer Lemon tree remaining when we arrived to make the purchase on Saturday afternoon. Ever since first reading about the Meyer Lemon Tree some years ago, I have longed to possess one of these beauties. Citrus trees, with their bright colors and enticing aromas, send the mind to exotic, tropical destinations. And, a well pruned citrus can be a thing of real beauty.

A Meyer Lemon is actually believed to be a cross between a lemon and a mandarin orange, resulting in a sweeter and less zesty temperament. It was brought to the United States in 1908 from China and thrives in the warmer climates. Though it is a fairly hearty tree, I plan to keep mine a large pot on castors, so it can be brought in at the threat of a heavy frost.

There are actually numerous recipes which are designed to showcase the unique flavor of Meyer Lemons. We don't do cocktails much in our household (okay, not at all), but with my new little tree, we could shake up a Meyer Lemon Martini. Of course, one can never go wrong with a refreshing citrus sherbet. More information and delicious looking recipes can be found here.