Yesterday I poached pears and made a pear cake using pears from my neighbour’s tree. 
With my mouth and my mind very involved with pears, I decided that, today, I would visit the oldest exotic tree in Christchurch, and that tree happens to be a pear tree.
Here it is; the French Durondeau Pear tree planted in 1846.
It was planted by the Deans brothers in their flourishing orchard in the grounds of Riccarton House. Only, at that time, there was no Riccarton House, just the Deans Cottage which was built in 1843. The Deans supplied fruit and vegetables and young trees to the main body of settlers who arrived in 1850.
I find it hard to believe that the Durondeau is so old. Not only older than other exotic trees but older than most of our buildings. To my eyes, it remains vigorous and strong. 
It still bears fruit.
I picked up one of the free fall pears. I hope it will ripen. I am curious to know what it will taste like. Many of the other trees planted by the Deans, including John’s wife, Jane, are still flourishing and are now notable and protected trees.
The story of John and Jane Deans is a lovely, but sad, one for Valentine’s Day. They met in Scotland prior to 1841 near Jane’s family home at Auchenflower. John came to New Zealand in 1842. Ten years later he returned to Scotland to marry Jane at Riccarton, Ayrshire, Scotland. They left Scotland in October 1852 and arrived in Lyttelton, New Zealand, in February 1853. Jane gave birth to their only child in August 1853. Her husband John, died in June 1854. Jane could have returned to Scotland but she stayed on, and with support from her family, continued to develop Riccarton house and farm and carry out her husband’s wishes for the preservation of Riccarton Bush. She was a remarkable woman. http://www.teara.govt.nz/en/biographies/1d6/deans-jane
© silkannthreades
She was a remarkable woman and imagine how she would have felt to know that all these years later, you are still enjoying the “fruits of her labor”…
Yes, she was amazing and I think she knew she was starting something that would last the ages. I have been thinking more about your sister’s work. I think she (and you) would enjoy all the public art work that is filling the spaces in our broken city; the projects are called ‘Gap Fillers’. If we had lost trees, your sister’s project would have been perfect for our city too.
I like the concept of Gap Fillers…art is a perfect thing to fill a hole.
http://realruth.wordpress.com/ Realruth does a wonderful job of keeping me up to date with the Gap Fillers in our city if you are interested. She lives in the central city so is always on the spot to see the latest.
A beautiful love story. It seems that love finds a way to continue even when one leaves our world too soon…
It’s amazing how that happens and thank goodness it does.
Amen!!!
I love pears and your post is a delicious early morning treat. What a joyful day to bring all your experiences together into a luscious pear cake. Yummy.
Thank you. I wish I could share a slice of the cake with you!
You might be interested to know that I have a letter of reference written by John Deans in 1897 for my granddad, Robert Wilkinson, who was employed by him for milking and general farm work.
Interesting post and gorgeous photos! I have never eaten pear cake It looks divine~
Thanks Cindy. The pear cake is delicious. Sometimes if I bake it just right it is divine!
I saw your post this morning just as I was heading off to work and I have to say, it looked so delicious! Fascinating facts about this very old pear tree. I loved the perspective you gave of comparing it to the buildings around you. What a lovely, yet sad story. Great little outing after a day of baking! Yum!
Glad you enjoyed my post. It was a lovely, lovely outing. The cicadas were singing, the sun was shining, the surroundings beautiful; what more could you want?
I can’t believe you said the cicadas were singing…like it was a good thing. People around hear can’t stand the sound of them “singing” all night long. You made me laugh!
That’s too funny. Perhaps they sound good because we don’t get to hear them too often. Or perhaps it’s because I am getting a little deaf.
I really enjoyed your post. What a remarkable pear tree and a remarkable woman. I hope your pear ripens nicely.
Thank you. I really wanted to pick one of the pears from the tree itself but wasn’t brave enough!
the dessert looks lovely, and the story bittersweet, but equally lovely. grrracias, and happy valentine’s day to you!
Happy Valentines to you too. Thinking of you enjoying hibiscus tea.
Wow, I did not know that pear trees can be so old. Interesting post.
It makes me wonder how old pear trees in Europe might be.