The Temptation of Green Fruits
In spring, enjoy the flowers; in autumn, relish the fruits; in summer, admire the green fruits.
In nature, nothing reflects the changing seasons better than these plants.
As the scorching summer arrives, the scenery within the Yandu Ancient City undergoes great changes. Apart from the lush green shade and clusters of flowers, there are also the green fruits hidden among the dense foliage.
In the green belts, along the streets, and around the houses, fruit trees have shed their spring blossoms, grown dense leaves, and borne abundant fruits. Before they ripen, these fruits share the same color as the leaves. They hang alone, in pairs, or in clusters nestled among the branches and leaves—easy to overlook if you're not paying attention.
In the north, peach trees are quite common. The Yandu Ancient City scenic area has many ornamental peach trees, which now bear numerous green fruits. Upon closer inspection, these small peaches are covered with fine fuzz, much like the down on our skin. However, these little things are not to be trifled with: if they accidentally touch your skin, they cause an intense itch, as if bitten by a small insect. Only a thorough rinse with plenty of water can relieve it. Thus, this fuzz acts like a tiny soft armor, offering some protection to the young peaches.
Entering Jingke Road, beside the water system, there are several plum trees laden with cute little plums—dense, plump, round, and translucent, full of vitality under the sunlight. Plums resemble apricots in shape but have smoother skin. Unripe plums taste sour and astringent, a flavor that belongs to childhood, memorable only to those who have tasted it.
Persimmon trees are widely distributed in the ancient city, found along Binhe Road, Jingke Road, and behind the Zhongxiao Theater. Persimmon leaves are oval, large, and smooth. The fruit, unlike the round peaches and plums, is somewhat flat and square, with rounded corners at the base and becoming rounder toward the top. A groove encircles the middle-lower part, as if marked by a thin string or wire.
Apricots and purple-leaf plum fruits have ripened; some have fallen to the ground, while others still hang among the branches, attracting many birds to peck at them. These lush trees and abundant fruits, set against the whitewashed walls and black tiles, form a beautiful picture—a blend of antiquity and modernity, grandeur and elegance.
