The persimmon tree has become a peculiar marker of time on the farm. As an early succession tree, they were one of the first orchard canopy species to spring up. And when they did, the landscape started to take on a young forest quality, which felt enormously exciting at the time. I distinctly remember standing face to crown with a six foot tall persimmon some years back and thinking, my goodness I can’t wait until you’re older and you tower over me and bear fruit on every branch! A thought that was quickly followed by another, more alertly prescient thought, I suppose I’ll be older then too…