Try cherries, apples, pears and grapes in your desert garden

Nothing tastes better than a fruit plucked from a tree you've grown yourself. That you've grown it in your desert garden makes it even better.

Three years ago, I stood next to my small nectarine tree in my desert garden. Plucking a ripe fruit from the tree, I bit into it. A sweetness spread across my mouth and throat, like a desert sunrise lighting up the sage.

Last year, I sat in the back of my garden, a ripe apple from my own tree in my hand. It crunched crisply, full of juice and flavor, like no store-bought apple I have ever eaten.

If you've not experienced tasting fruit from your own trees, you're missing a wonderful opportunity. If you haven't planted fruit trees because you live in the desert, or in drought areas, you'll be surprised what you can grow if you manage your resources.

I had a great harvest of chokecherries this year. They're tart and they're small, but they're great for making one of the best jellies I have ever tasted. Birds love them too, and we've had songbirds in the back garden snapping up those delicious and nutritious fruits.

If you've been reluctant to try, step up the plate now.