I have an olive tree in my front garden. It was a housewarming gift 17 years ago from my then boss.
Most years, I get some olives. Last year, they were very puny in size. This year, I just had a look at the ripening fruit and as you can see from the photo, there are some lush fat olives on the tree, and I will have a fine harvest worth pickling around Anzac Day.
I suppose the reasons for the larger fruits this year (if you can call something so bitter a fruit) are that it has rained a whole lot over what, bushfires aside, was a pretty mild summer, and that I aggressively pruned the tree last winter.
Of course, there are many olive trees in my suburb. People grow them on their nature strips. I think my olive tree is not going to produce enough fruit for me. I will map out where all the olive trees are in my immediate proximity and then, when it gets close to the time for picking them, I should dress in dark clothing like a ninja and go around after dark picking a few olives from each of them….
Lost For Words! 