We love walking along our lane to school and back. Maybe I should say that I love it. The children love it some of the times and other times I think they just tolerate it. Not always silently.
I try to point out the changes as they happen. The new flowers opening. A different bird song. The lambs in the field. We spot the differences as the seasons change. Some changes catch their attention more than others and we might discuss it for the rest of the walk. Great! The walk seems shorter and less run of the mill, if there is something to discuss.
A couple of weeks ago, we noticed something completely different. Lemons. Lemons left on the edge of the road or just in the hedgerow. Now bear in mind, we live in the UK. Lemon trees do not thrive outside. These lemons had been placed there. Some stretches, lemons have been left every five paces. I counted at least 12 lemons and one orange.
Theories varied from the plausible to the stretching it all too far:
1. Road markers for a treasure hunt, jogging route. They seem a pretty good choice for marking a route. They are bright, remarkable, not attractive to animals. Not even the worms are too keen. They will eventually rot down, so they are not a littering issue. Possible.
2. A scientific experiment. Could be any number of hypothesis being tested with this one. Hmm…maybe
3. They happened to form an interesting line between two fishing lakes in the area. Some kind of deterrent for a fish predator. Unlikely.
4. Lemon tree planting. Our climate may be unsuitable for outside lemon trees, but if we are to believe certain authorities, it will be a lot warmer in a few decades. Are the lemons placed there as some kind of attempt to bring lemons to the UK as Johnny Appleseed spread apple seeds in America. Or Miss Rumphius making her world more beautiful with lupins. If only…but unlikely.
5. Hole in a bag. Reminiscent of the The Sun Egg. Looking a bit more likely!
6. A method to make a walk to school more interesting. Hmm… I’m saying nothing!
Most of the lemons have been squashed by cars after a couple of weeks. The one orange has survived. Some still look as fresh as before, although I won’t be rescuing them for the kitchen.
Whatever the reason, they have provided us with lots of fun conversations, scientific debates and counting practise for the youngest! Learning opportunities! So what do you reckon? Why has someone left so many lemons at regular intervals in our hedgerow?
How strangely fascinating………………maybe they came down in a rainstorm, I did once hear of it raining real frogs in some part of the world or other………so yes, I have a suspicion that it’s been raining oranges and lemons in your neck of the woods, lol. xx
I love the idea. I have images of lemon and orange groves floating above us, dropping random fruit. Wouldn’t it be wonderful!!!! 😀
How cheery it must be to see bright coloured fruit along the walk to school. Anything to brighten up a winters day.
Anne xx
It is very cheery. We’re having our share of overcast days, at the moment, so any bright colours certainly lift the mood.
Now you have me wondering what lemons were doing alongside the road! Strange. We could use some lemons here to cheer up the landscape 😉
It is strange and it does cheer up our walk, along with the snowdrops just beginning to open. Nice change from mud.
Loving your blog, just found it via the making winter blog hop 🙂 off to delve in deeper and explore your blog x
Hi scentedsweetpea. We’re loving the winter blog hop too!
Aside from the obvious mystery… I would find an excuse to take that walk every day – my goodness how pretty is that wall and the fields and all… reminds me of Wales… beautiful!!! And it looks cool…. and we are so sweltering over here!!! Wonderful!!! Hope you are having a fun weekend!!!
Certainly cool today. We just trudged up the lane in the snow!