Thousands of orange trees embellish beautiful Seville in the parks, on pedestrian only streets, and grand boulevards.Some are closely cropped into high topiary-like trees.Others are bushy and randomly growing.Much of the trim color on buildings is in the orange family.
All these trees mean millions of oranges hanging out.The trees have been deliberately planted with sour, distasteful oranges so the trees stay decorative and oranges are not picked.With one exception:the City Government harvests the oranges once a year, usually in January or February, depending on the growing season.
Oranges are then sold to cooperatives where marmalade and fragrances are produced.It is a tough decision whether to come to Seville when the millions of oranges are on the trees in winter, or, during the spring season, when one is in bliss with the sweet smell of zillions of orange blossoms.The blossoms have decided to burst forth during Semana Santa, Saints Week, or Easter. At this time, thousands of people flock to the streets to watch parades of ancient statues of holy figures being carried through the streets.What a combo, ancient pagan religious rites with orange blossoms.I will be there.
ORANGE TREE CAPITOL OF SPAIN – Seville
Seville, Spain
By Nancy Todd
Thousands of orange trees embellish beautiful Seville in the parks, on pedestrian only streets, and grand boulevards. Some are closely cropped into high topiary-like trees. Others are bushy and randomly growing. Much of the trim color on buildings is in the orange family.
All these trees mean millions of oranges hanging out. The trees have been deliberately planted with sour, distasteful oranges so the trees stay decorative and oranges are not picked. With one exception: the City Government harvests the oranges once a year, usually in January or February, depending on the growing season.
Oranges are then sold to cooperatives where marmalade and fragrances are produced. It is a tough decision whether to come to Seville when the millions of oranges are on the trees in winter, or, during the spring season, when one is in bliss with the sweet smell of zillions of orange blossoms. The blossoms have decided to burst forth during Semana Santa, Saints Week, or Easter. At this time, thousands of people flock to the streets to watch parades of ancient statues of holy figures being carried through the streets. What a combo, ancient pagan religious rites with orange blossoms. I will be there.