Colorful, edible harvests among the features at King's orchard

By MONETTE TAYLOR | South Central Texas Edition

Fresh-cut flowers are one of the new attractions at King's Orchard, as presented by Brenda Gardner, store manager. The site features over 90 500-foot rows of various flowers that patrons can cut and take home. Plus, the orchard features plenty of pick-your-own berries and figs. -- Staff photo by Taylor

July 3, 2003 -- It's not hard to understand why the "King's Orchard" was given the name, considering the owner, George Coulam, also operates a festival featuring knights and kings, right down the road, half-way between Plantersville and Magnolia.

For the last 16 years, Coulam has offered the orchard to families for fresh strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, figs and, recently, fresh cut flowers, from early March until Sept. 15.

"We harvest about 25 acres, but we own about 50," said Brenda Gardner, store manager of the orchard.

While Coulam has been in the area for at least 30 years, it took a trip to California and visit to "pick-your-own" orchards to help him decide to offer it to Texas citizens.

"Mr. Coulam ... gardening is his passion. He loves to garden. He, also, owns the Texas Renaissance Festival, and that's why there are so many beautiful gardens out there. Every year, he adds another garden," noted Gardner. "He visited some 'pick-your-own' orchards in California, and he thought, 'Man, I'd love to do this!'"

The grower for the orchard is Martin Perez-Flores, and it sounds like King's Orchard is lucky to have him.

"Martin is such a wonderful farmer/grower that he will stay up night and day. He puts smudge pots out and they create a cloud over that field. If there's a cloud over that field, the frost won't set," explained Gardner, while discussing the frost danger that can come in the late fall and early spring.

Perez-Flores and Gardner are in charge of the orchard, under Coulam's guidance, she said.

"Our season starts with strawberries. We grow strawberries, then blackberries, then blueberries, then figs. We have 'cut your own flowers' throughout the whole season. You can come cut your own bouquet of flowers," said Gardner.

Throughout the season, the flowers are grown in 94 500-foot rows ... nearly nine miles of the blooming plants. That equals 37,600 plants from which to choose.

The strawberries start producing in late February through May.

Blackberry season goes from the first of May until mid-July, with five miles of blackberries (and few thorns)! Blueberries are close behind with over five miles of the berries for picking.

Finally, the figs are the final fruit of the season, and they produce from late July through September.

Mainly due to the heat, the store closes on July 15, but customers are still invited to the orchard.

"We'll close (store) on July 15 and go on the honor system. We'll still have figs and blueberries, then, but people will go pick and weigh it themselves, and put their money in a dropbox," said Gardner.

Between seasons, she said the only fruit they have to replant is the strawberries, or any plants killed by frost. Another chore is trimming back the blackberry bushes.

While the smudge pots are used to keep the frost away, Gardner said they sometimes must place covers over the plants, although the strawberries are normally the only fruit blooming during frost season.

On a good day in strawberry season, Gardner said they can expect to see from 500 to 600 visitors, with blackberries being the second most favorite fruit season. The beds are raised for more convenient "picking," and the isles are wheelchair accessible.

Not only are families able to enjoy going into the fields to pick their own fruit, King's Orchard offers school field trips, along with trips by convalescent homes and tour busses. Use of the picnic tables and little red wagons are available without cost to the visitors.

While Gardner said the best part of her job is meeting the variety of people, she said the younger visitors have no idea about figs!

"Figs are not something younger people care for ... it's something that older people care about. If you ate two figs a day, it is equivalent to all the nutrients your body needs in a day. Figs are the most healthy thing you could possibly eat," explained Gardner, quoting facts from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

She said there are no harmful pesticides used on the fruits, and if a child should eat something right off the tree/vine, he or she should not become ill.

The beds are raised for more convenient "picking," and the isles are wheelchair accessible.

Reporter's Note: Finally, if all of the above information has not made you eager to go "pick-your-own" fruits, King's Orchard advertises, "NO weeds, NO mud, NO SNAKES!!" That's enough for me!