Day 26/365 Olives!

The Olive (pronounced /ˈɒlɨv/), Olea europaea, is a species of a small tree in the family Oleaceae, native to the coastal areas of the eastern Mediterranean Basin (the adjoining coastal areas of southeastern Europe, western Asia and northern Africa) as well as northern Iran at the south end of the Caspian Sea. Its fruit, also called the olive, is of major agricultural importance in the Mediterranean region as the source of olive oil. The tree and its fruit give its name to the plant family, which also includes species such as lilacs, jasmine, Forsythia and the true ash trees (Fraxinus). The word derives from Latin "oliva" which in turn comes from the Greek ἐλαία (elaia)^[1][2] ultimately from Mycenaean Greek e-ra-wa ("elaiva"), attested in Linear B syllabic script.^[3][4] The word 'oil' in multiple languages ultimately derives from the name of this tree and its fruit.

Olives are one of my favorite things!  I especially love the Kalamata olives, but just about any will do!
When I went to Spain in 2009, I loved looking at the olive groves along the roadside.  I never knew before that an olive is considered a fruit.  I also never knew that they grew on trees or how they were gathered with the large nets.  Ever wonder what extra virgin olive oil actually means?  It means the olive has never touched the ground because it was caught in the net when it was ripe or a little before.
So, in keeping with the fruit and veggie theme that I somehow created for myself this week, I decided to take a picture of one of the only other fruit and vegetables I had in the fridge tonight- olives!

EXIF for both photos: Canon T2i, Tokina 100mm lens focused up close and then further away, 1/200 sec, f5, external flash fired.