Growing Peaches in Mt. Washington

My friend Daniel Marlos submitted the following article  just in time for peach season, at least in Southern California.  I've been making my own variation of Daniel's cobbler recipe for years and have given it to my mother, who has also made it with great success.  I look forward to trying "The Sneaky Peach".  Thanks, Daniel!

Daniel's peach tree, photograph by Daniel Marlos 2010.

Growing Peaches in Mt. Washington

By Daniel Marlos

There is no fruit quite like a fresh peach right off the tree.  There are many varieties of peaches that grow very well in Southern California, and new varieties make it possible for a conscientious gardener to extend the season for fresh peaches by planting early varieties, mid season varieties and late season peaches. 

I got a Desertgold peach tree from the Glassell Park Fruit Tree giveaway about five years ago. It bears small peaches in late April and throughout May.  This year, Rourk, a member of the Rare Fruit Growers Association, asked if my peaches were watery and tasteless.  They were, but when I tried baking with them, the peach cobbler was awesome. I also entertained one evening, and rather than making Mint Juleps to take advantage of the fresh mint, I decided that I really needed to utilize the bounty of peaches.  I remembered a drink my bartender cousin introduced to the family in the 1970s.  Though I didn’t have a recipe, I had a general recollection of the ingredients, and the name Sneaky Peach is unforgettable.