15 A Plum Tree

The plum trees in my backyard are in full bloom. Against a blue sky and green grass, the white flowers are beautiful, but we have to enjoy this time while it lasts because the petals usually fall to the ground within a week of opening up.

Normally, these trees don’t fully blossom until mid-to- late April, but spring came early this year. The bees are out today, and there are even a few butterflies hovering over the flowers.

These trees have a very soft fragrance. You have to press your nose up against the flowers to smell their sweet perfume. The large, ornamental plum tree nearby has a stronger scent, but it doesn’t produce any fruit. These trees will bear fruit in the middle of summer. The skin of the fruit is a little tart, which contrasts with the firm, sweet orange flesh.

Last year we didn’t get any plums from these trees. Birds stole the ones that reached ripeness, and the others fell to the ground. It was a bad year for plums. I think it was because of the weather. This year we look forward to a good harvest and a lot of juicy fruit. For now, we can enjoy their beauty.

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Now you try it. Read the paragraph above. If you have a microphone, you can record your voice.

How much do you remember from the reading? Fill in the blanks.  

• 1A: What kind of trees are in my backyard?
• 1B: They’re _______ _________.
• 2A: What color are the blossoms on the trees?
• 2B: They’re ___________.
• 3A: How does the skin of the fruit taste?
• 3B: It tastes _________.
• 4A: What happened to some of the plums last year?
• 4B: Birds __________ them.

(1. plum trees; 2. white; 3. tart; 4. stole)

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