These are the first kumquats from the tree I purchased a few months ago. They’re like tiny oranges. The tree is potted in a sunny location in my garden. I do love this little fruit which some botanists classify with the citrus clan. Others assign it to the Fortunella genus.

NPR’s food blogger, Susan Russo describes her first kumquat at the Santa Monica Farmers’ Market in Kumquats: Discovering the Sweetness of Sour.

I bit into the kumquat, and it initially tasted like an orange rind, only sweeter and more delicate. Then my teeth sunk into the juicy flesh and — POW! — a jolt of tartness hit my taste buds. Involuntarily, my cheeks sucked in, my lips puckered, and my eyes watered. (I had a visceral reaction just writing that sentence.)

The farmer looked at me, hesitatingly. I smiled at him and said, “I’ll take a basket, please.” When you have a sensory experience that explosive, you want to have it again.

That’s why I had to have my own tree.

I’m remembering a salad last January made with kumquats a friend shared with me. These were my first kumquats. The variety is Nagami and you can read more about kumquats in Discovering the Sweetness of Sour.

And these are citrus for sure–among the last of my navel oranges.

When my son, Andy and wife Sarah stopped by yesterday afternoon, I gathered some arugula for them.

And another bag of summer herbs for Sarah’s creations this week.

A sweet bouquet from the garden for Andy and Sarah.

See what other garden bloggers are harvesting at Harvest Monday, hosted by Our Happy Acres.