Some of you have heard a lot of things about Green Gage plum and may be wondering how it actually tastes but have never had the opportunity to try it. I will give my review and attempt to write a very detailed description of the flavor. (I just picked two plums from my trees to taste) Reine Claude Doree (sought after variety of Green Gage) Smelling the outside of the fruit, the aroma is very reminiscent of the intense fragrance of yellow color cherry plums (Myrobalan), some mild soft "apricot" smell, though with some slight "plum texture" as well. The initial impression from the flavor was "most delightful flavor". The type of flavor was not extremely unique, but very good. It was kind of Mirabelle plum like (I mean in terms of having a little apricot flavor), a little bit of a lovely Pluot flavor as well. The flavor is sort of similar to Japanese plums ordinarily found at a supermarket, and almost a little similar to Shiro plums (yellow color) too. Hints of honeydew melon and green watermelon rind. "delectable" and fully ripe flavor, somewhat delicate flavor but not too weak. The fruit size was a little bit smaller than the other Green Gage variety. standard Green Gage (I'm assuming the variety is 'Verte', but I'm not sure) The fruit size was significantly bigger than the Reine Claude Doree, but might not have been fully ripe. Even despite that, I could tell that it was a lower quality tasting plum, compared to the other one. Still not bad, but kind of a not fully ripe flavor, very slightly "starchy" (not fully converted to sugars yet), or very slightly "tannic" (astringent). Taste was like a normal supermarket plum but a bit more on the "green" tasting side, maybe a hint of grass and green melon. I still think this plum could have breeding potential if crossed with something else that is sweeter and more ripe. The trees are very young and this is the first year they have produced any fruit. The Reine Claude Doree fruit was also a paler color, like a very pale green, almost as if it seemed to be turning white, whereas the the standard Green Gage was a beautiful green color. Edit, an update: I just tasted a standard green gage fruit from the tree again, 6 days later, after it had the chance to become more ripe. Here is my review. smelling the skin, it has some exquisite plum aroma, moderately better than a supermarket plum. flavor of pluot and a little bit of nectarine. very slight grass flavor. besides from and in addition to that, there's something very "green" about the aroma (I could only compare to maybe Japanese ume plum, or green wine grape flavor).

Whoops! Meant to post in BirdWatching forum!

P. edulis 'Frederick' is said to do really well in S. Ca, but it will get really big. Here is a description. "Passiflora edulis 'Frederick' is the premier fruit producing passiflora for warmer areas of Southern California and will grow inland with protection. The flowers are fragrant and large. The fruit is as large as a goose egg with a purple skin and delicious pulp when ripe. The fruit should never be picked, it must fall naturally. If it is allowed to wrinkle a bit after collecting, it becomes sweet ambrosia. The plant is very productive in warm areas. This outstanding Patrick Worley hybrid is vigorous and blooms from late spring until fall. This plant is excellent for a sunny location and makes a good, rapidly growing screen for an unsightly fence or outbuilding."

i don't see a lot of orioles on the suet blocks but when i make my own flavored with honey or corn syrup and with fruit bits or raisens in and peanut butter and shortning or lard and mixed birds seed to thicken it then they do eat it. but most often they are on the necter feeders or the jam or jelly bowls. some go for the grape or apricot and mine mostly prefer strawbery jam.