In my part of the world we say you are a fool if your passion for a pursuit overcomes all practical sense. I am a stitching fool, and I stitch foolishness.

Friday, November 2, 2018

A strawberry tree?

Doesn't this look like strawberries growing on a tree?


But strawberries don't grow on trees.

But did they somehow train strawberries to grow so they looked like they were growing on trees in the early 18th century?

Well this sent me down all kinds of rabbit holes.

On my lunch hour, I found out about espaliering fruit trees and training vines in decorative shapes. But strawberries don't grow on either trees or vines . . . so then I started looking for illustrations for 18th century gardening practices. That continued after I got home.

I have yet to find a strawberry tree.

So if any of my readers know anything about 17th/18th century gardening practices and can enlighten me, I would appreciate it.

Or maybe little Frances was clueless and just stitched strawberries on a tree.

4 comments:

  1. The Arbutus is also called a Greek Strawberry Tree and the fruits, whilst not looking like strawberries are edible and apparently can be used to make Brandy in places such as Portugal. Hope this helps.

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  2. Your tree looks good. I was going to ask if they had candy corn back then as that is what it looks like to me. Enjoy your weekend!

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  3. I think she just liked the shapes and colors. Kind of like the birds that just stand in the sky. :0) Your piece is looking great!

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