A TRIUMVIRATE OF PEACHES:THIS IS A CONTEST!

WE ARE LUCKY TO HAVE SEVERAL VARIETIES OF LUSCIOUS PEACHES IN OUR ITALIAN GARDEN, BUT THIS IS THE FIRST TO MATURE. IT HAS SUCCULENT YELLOW FLESH AND UNLIKE THE OVERABUNDANCE OF FRUIT PRODUCED BY OUR PEAR, PLUM, FIG, AND APPLE TREES, WE MANAGE TO GOBBLE THESE UP WITHOUT A PROBLEM.

IN THE STATES, THIS IS CALLED A DONUT PEACH, BUT THE ACTUAL VARIETY IS CALLED SATURNIA. THEY ARE A JUICY, WHITE PEACH WITH AN EXTREMELY DELICATE, FLOWERY SCENT.

SO IF THIS IS A TRIUMVIRATE, HOW COME THERE ARE FOUR PHOTOS? THIS DONUT PEACH DESERVED A SECOND POSE BECAUSE THE FIRST DID NOT DO JUSTICE TO ITS UNIQUE, FLAT BEAUTIFUL SELF.

WE SAW PESCHE GIALLE AT THE ORVIETO MARKET AND COULDN'T RESIST TRYING THEM. THEIR SURFACE IS SMOOTH, NOT FUZZY, BUT IT'S DEFINITELY STILL A PEACH, NOT A NECTARINE OR APRICOT. THIS VARIETY, WHICH WAS NEW TO US, HAS A HEAVENLY PERFUME.
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MIRROR, MIRROR, ON THE WALL...

SO WHICH IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL? WHICH TASTED THE BEST? THIS IS RIGHT UP THERE WITH DECIDING WHO OF THE THREE GRACES WINS THE BEAUTY CONTEST--A RISKY BUSINESS. I AM GOING TO BE A WIMP AND SAY THAT EACH HAS ITS OWN POWERS OF SEDUCTION.

AND TO COMPLICATE MATTERS, THERE WILL SOON BE ANOTHER CONTENDER, SINCE THE NEXT VARIETY IN OUR GARDEN IS ABOUT TO BE HARVESTED. IT'S A WHITE-FLESHED BEAUTY THAT COULD GIVE ALL OF THESE A RUN FOR THEIR MONEY.