So spring is most definitely here and here in wettest South Wales we’ve had an unheard of 3 or 4 weeks without any significant rain. The garden has really sprung into life in that preiod early flowers and apple blossom in abundance.
Old man apple tree is certainly doing well and promises a good crop. I’m sure wassialing did no harm.
The apple tree next to the workshop has recovered well. For may years the privet behind had overwhelmed it and Ivy grew up the trunk. With all the competition cut right back it has grown vigoursly and should provide a good crop.
The Oranage Pipping is only a small tree but is flowering well and promises a good crop of russet like sweet and scented small dessert apples. We brought this tree with us from Kent so it has been transplanted twice in it’s short life but seems to have established itself now.
The Orange Pippin blossom is quite pretty.
The Fiesta didn’t provide much fruit last year all the growth went upwards not outwards. We’ve pruned back a lot of other shrubs that were blocking the light and it has made a difference, Lots of blossom, so we can only hope these large red sweet apples crop well.
EmmCee pruned the Lord Derby over winter and it seems to have really affected the blossom unsurprisingly. The tree looks healthy but not expecting much fruit. It’s a beautiful blossom white starburst like patterns. The apples themselves are a cooking apple.
Our sixth and final apple tree is at the bottom of the garden and for years was denied light by the overgrown privet hedge. Our landscaping effirts seem to have brought it back to life and we even have some blossom. We’ve not had fruit off this so I’m not sure what we’re getting yet. The 2 privet trunks either side will go this winter if I remember and we’ll see if we can reduce the competition further.
Spring is a busy time for the beekeeper with the hiive picking up pace and flowers providing the first rush of nectar. So EmmCee chose to do a hive inspection last week. All is well we have 4 strong hives down the garden. The fifth in the front garden doesn’t look so great but we need to get that offsite at some point so we can relocate to the bottom of the garden with the rest. We’re still hopeful it will pull through eve if it doesn’t produce a lot.
Lots more to do in the gaden but I thought a brief Spring update was due.