Pomegranate Christmas Wishes

People often wish for a "white Christmas" and decorate things accordingly, but the "true colors" of Christmas, at least in Germany, are often green and red. What then, could be better suited than a pomegranate plant? The ornamental (dwarf) pomegranate produces small fruits that are not interesting to eat, but the flowers are of a showy and intense red. Because the plants are small enough for a small yard or even a balcony they have started to become popular over the last years.

To my delight the DDC planted many pomegranates on New Campus. Some grow between gates 4 and 5, and a little orchard was planted behind the library and the administration building, surrounded by petrified wood. The plants are about 1m to 1.5m high, and will continue to bear red flowers and fruits for another few weeks.
The pomegranate is common in our part of the world, and many people I know love the fruit, whether to eat directly, use in the form of grenadine or to drink as "sharbat." The ornamental and the edible plant are varieties of the same species Punica granatum.

Punica granatum is a hardy plant that can survive difficult conditions, which is reflected by the many trees that can be found inside and outside Bedouin gardens in Sinai. The photos of the trees below were taken in Wadi Arbaeen in St. Kathrin, at about 1700m elevation. This is a dry environment, the soil is sandy, and at that elevation, it can get very cold in winter. In fact, we had all the color- and weather-ingredients for a picture-book western Christmas when we went climbing in St. Kathrin 2 years ago. It was below zero degrees Celsius, there was snow, and the pomegranates were in perfect "green and red."

By the way, the sweetness, slight acidity, and intensive taste of the fruit are ideal for jellies. Use the juice of the pomegranates (without the seeds). Make sure to use about 25 to 30% more pectin (or gelatin) and/or sugar than for a jam made out of fruit. I wonder… perhaps this would also taste good together with venison instead of cranberry jam? It is worth a try.