One of my goals as a grandfather has been to get some fruit trees planted. Back in the day, when I was little lad growing up in rural Georgia, one of the highlights of visiting my own grandparents’ farm was always to head straight out the backdoor to their fig tree.
After a small feast there, I would then eagerly trek out across the pasture to their enormous pear tree. From there, I would eventually cross the road and head over to their huge apple tree. By the end of my little tour, I would be gorged on fruit; and more often as not, more than a little sick at my stomach for having so stuffed myself.
While I do not relish fresh fruit as much as once did, I still remember the premium I placed on it as a child. And I now want the same for my grandchildren. For this reason, I recently began shopping for fruit trees to plant that will thrive in our local “plant hardiness zone”.
To my delight, I have discovered that all sorts of things will grow here in east Tennessee. As a result, on my list, I now have such selections as apples, apricots, cherries, crabapples, figs, kiwis, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, pomegranates, and even quinces. I have also discovered that nearly all of these come in multiple varieties.
In fact, I now have so much to choose from that I find myself worried over whether I will have enough space to plant all the options I have available. This is why I was so excited to discover that apple, pear, peach, and plum trees all come in what are called “5 in 1” varieties.
That is to say that a single apple tree is actually capable of producing five different varieties of fruit. For instance, one pear tree can produce any combination of Anjou, Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Keiffer, Moonglow, or Seckel pears. The same is true for apple and peach trees.
What is more, one type of fruit tree, known as the “Fruit Cocktail Tree” can even be made to produce as much as seven different fruits on the same tree! That’s right, apple trees, citrus trees, and stonefruit trees are capable of being manipulated to achieve this very thing.
How is this possible? The answer is through what is known as grafting – the horticultural technique whereby tissues of different plants are joined together by grafting in a “scion” (or upper portion) of a branch with a rootstock (or lower part), so as to continue their grow as a single unit.
Actually, this horticultural process has been around for thousands of years. It was even known to Biblical writers. For this reason, perhaps, the apostle Paul was led to utilize this phenomenon to describe how the family of God now includes all people.
In Romans chapter 11, he uses the analogy of grafting wild olive branches onto an existing olive tree to address how Gentiles have been added to Jews as members of the family of God.
And who was the grafter? None other than God’s One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, the Master Gardener, Who worked to bring all people into the family of God!
As the beloved Bill Gaither song puts it…
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.
You will notice we say “brother and sister” ‘round here,
It's because we're a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.
From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I'm not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong!
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God!
I hope you too are a part of God’s family. If not, I hope you soon will be. Even now, there is room to graft you in!
SOURCES:
Grafting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafting.
Scripture: https://biblehub.com/romans/11-17.htm.
Hymn Lyrics: https://www.hymnlyrics.org/newlyrics_f/family_of_god.php.
After a small feast there, I would then eagerly trek out across the pasture to their enormous pear tree. From there, I would eventually cross the road and head over to their huge apple tree. By the end of my little tour, I would be gorged on fruit; and more often as not, more than a little sick at my stomach for having so stuffed myself.
While I do not relish fresh fruit as much as once did, I still remember the premium I placed on it as a child. And I now want the same for my grandchildren. For this reason, I recently began shopping for fruit trees to plant that will thrive in our local “plant hardiness zone”.
To my delight, I have discovered that all sorts of things will grow here in east Tennessee. As a result, on my list, I now have such selections as apples, apricots, cherries, crabapples, figs, kiwis, nectarines, peaches, pears, plums, pomegranates, and even quinces. I have also discovered that nearly all of these come in multiple varieties.
In fact, I now have so much to choose from that I find myself worried over whether I will have enough space to plant all the options I have available. This is why I was so excited to discover that apple, pear, peach, and plum trees all come in what are called “5 in 1” varieties.
That is to say that a single apple tree is actually capable of producing five different varieties of fruit. For instance, one pear tree can produce any combination of Anjou, Bartlett, Flemish Beauty, Keiffer, Moonglow, or Seckel pears. The same is true for apple and peach trees.
What is more, one type of fruit tree, known as the “Fruit Cocktail Tree” can even be made to produce as much as seven different fruits on the same tree! That’s right, apple trees, citrus trees, and stonefruit trees are capable of being manipulated to achieve this very thing.
How is this possible? The answer is through what is known as grafting – the horticultural technique whereby tissues of different plants are joined together by grafting in a “scion” (or upper portion) of a branch with a rootstock (or lower part), so as to continue their grow as a single unit.
Actually, this horticultural process has been around for thousands of years. It was even known to Biblical writers. For this reason, perhaps, the apostle Paul was led to utilize this phenomenon to describe how the family of God now includes all people.
In Romans chapter 11, he uses the analogy of grafting wild olive branches onto an existing olive tree to address how Gentiles have been added to Jews as members of the family of God.
And who was the grafter? None other than God’s One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, the Master Gardener, Who worked to bring all people into the family of God!
As the beloved Bill Gaither song puts it…
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.
You will notice we say “brother and sister” ‘round here,
It's because we're a family and these are so near;
When one has a heartache, we all share the tears,
And rejoice in each victory in this family so dear.
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God.
From the door of an orphanage to the house of the King,
No longer an outcast, a new song I sing;
From rags unto riches, from the weak to the strong,
I'm not worthy to be here, but praise God I belong!
I'm so glad I'm a part of the Family of God,
I've been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His Blood!
Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod,
For I'm part of the family,
The Family of God!
I hope you too are a part of God’s family. If not, I hope you soon will be. Even now, there is room to graft you in!
SOURCES:
Grafting: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grafting.
Scripture: https://biblehub.com/romans/11-17.htm.
Hymn Lyrics: https://www.hymnlyrics.org/newlyrics_f/family_of_god.php.