Austin in Chicago in Cook County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

Quince

Cydonia oblonga

— Native to Western Asia —

Quince Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 10, 2026

1. Quince Marker

Inscription. Immature fruits are green with gray-white shading but mature in fall to bright yellow. It's generally too astringent to eat raw, even though it smells sweet.

Quince have a high pectin content and lend themselves to jellies, pastes and preserves. The word marmalade derives from the Portuguese name for quince. In the U.S., quinces were common in the garden during colonial days through the 19th century, until the advent of commercial gelatin and pectin.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Horticulture & Forestry.

Location. 41° 53.15′ N, 87° 46.334′ W. Marker is in Chicago, Illinois, in Cook County. It is in Austin. It is on West Fulton Avenue near North Mayfield Avenue, on the right when traveling west. The marker is in the Mayfield Community Garden. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 302 North Mayfield Avenue, Chicago IL 60644, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Great Lakes,

in the Western Hemisphere,

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in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Viceroyalty of New France,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: American Plum; Wild Plum (here, next to this marker); Tart Cherry: Romeo (here, next to this marker); Tart Cherry: Juliette (here, next to this marker); Mulberry: Illinois Everbearing (here, next to this marker); Cornelian Cherry (a few steps from this marker); Serviceberry; Juneberry (a few steps from this marker); Third Unitarian Church (within shouting distance of this marker); Austin VFW Post 2955 War Memorial (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chicago.

More about this marker. The marker is one of several accompanying the plants in the Mayfield Community Garden, which is operated by Third Unitarian Church. The church itself, which worships in a Chicago Landmark building, is across the street.

Also see . . .
1. Mayfield Community Garden (Facebook). (Submitted on August 11, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
2. Quince (Wikipedia).

Quince (left) and Moonglow Pear at Mayfield Community Garden image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 10, 2026

2. Quince (left) and Moonglow Pear at Mayfield Community Garden

(Submitted on August 11, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)

Mayfield Community Garden image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 10, 2026

3. Mayfield Community Garden

The garden is operated by Third Unitarian Church, which is across the street (behind the bushes in the background).

Marker for Moonglow Pear image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, August 10, 2026

4. Marker for Moonglow Pear

This tree and marker is a few paces east of the quince. The text states:
Pear: Moonglow
Pyrus communis
Native to West Asia, central and eastern Europe
The Moonglow pear fruit has greenish-brown skin that turns blush pink when ripe. It is very similar to a Bartlett Pear and the fruit size is medium to large. A benefit of this fruit is that it is low acid, and is chocked full of vitamins and nutrients. The tree produces white flowers in mid to late spring and has dark green foliage that will stay on the tree until fall. Being a deciduous tree, it will lose all its leaves over winter but not before putting on a display of fall color when the green leaves turn to yellow.

Credits. This page was last revised on August 11, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 10, 2026, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.