#may hill

[bikerlovertexas]

[thefugitivesaint]

Milo Winter (1888-1956), ''The Child's Treasury'' ed. by May Hill, 1923 Source

[teepeecider]

Folklore of perry pears. May Hill, 15 miles north-west of Gloucester on the Gloucestershire Herefordshire border is said to be the epicentre of pear growing. There are 2 main myths as to why. Firstly it was said to have been the stomping ground of giants and one autumn a giant thundered home with a handful of Perry Pears. After taking a bite of the fruit and finding it bitter, he spat it out, scattering pips across the countryside and sowing the seeds for the 3 Counties orchards. Alternatively he may have spat it out at the top.

Another myth looking back through the mists of time to the dawn of the World to a day when immortals were feasting on May Hill. One brought a pear which he described as the elixir of life, providing a nectar fit only for gods. He handed it to the chief, who took a large bite. That pear was so dry and astringent as to be virtually inedible, this discovered, spitting the pear all around the hill. And out into the countryside. His companions explained that the pear must be crushed and the juice turned into perry, but the damage had been done, those pips took root and flourished – the perry pear had entered the mortal World.

You can choose either myth but it is believed that this was the birth of perry s and those trees will only prosper in sight of May Hill. #pears #perry #MayHill

[peterhaken]

#MayHill #landscape nice walk at May Hill in Gloucestershire