Riding my bike to Chipotle in Denver I rode past a beautiful peach tree on the street that seemed to have thousands of perfect peaches, including hundreds on the ground around it. I made a mental note to bring my chipotle bag on my way back and pick some.

30min later, I stop my bike on the street and there were literally thousands of them. I pick 4 or 5, and some have squirrel bites and I put them in my bag anyway to not add to the detritus on the ground, and the owner comes out and says "Can you save some for me?". I actually thought he was joking because there were thousands, but his tone was clearly angry, so I said "do you not want me to pick them?" and he replied, "Take a few, but leave a few." At this point I had 5 or six and said "OK" then continued to pick, and after about 3 more, he said "I asked you nicely,". I responded that his request was so vague, I thought I was leaving him plenty, and he said "please leave!"

At this point, I had not stepped foot on his property, I was picking everything while standing on the public street. (The Tree wasn't even on his property, but on the land between the sidewalk and the street, which as a homeowner in the same neighborhood I have learned is the owners responsibility to care for, but isn't actually their property.)

I acquiesced and left with 10 peaches, including two half-eaten by squirrels. On the ride home, I searched state law and it doesn't seem Colorado has a law on this topic, but other states like CA say anyone can pick fruit as long as they're not trespassing when they do it.

I just got home, washed them and ate them. They are delicious and the perfect level of ripeness. What a gift!