Spring is coming
Blossom blooms
White payals fall
As the breeze blows
But too cold for bees
Will there be fruit?
Sadness if it fails.
Spring so far
Has been dry.
Tree doodle
Tag: Blossom
We need rain….
What I suspected is true. Parts of the United Kingdom have had their driest March in 60 years. I even went out and watered my plant pots today as my daffodils are starting to wilt.
My Cherry and Pear trees still have tightly furled buds and are not showing any sign of opening, their blossoms held in stasis until the rain swells the plant cells to make them pop open.
March is usually wet and windy for at least part of the month. But not this year, the clouds lifted and blue skies sparkled. I guess the farmers are starting to panic now. It was so warm today I left my coat off and wore a tee shirt.
Reflected memory
From 2018, I don’t remember making this collage of blossom against a pastel sky, but thanks to Facebook it just popped up.
I like it, but it feels a bit too diffuse and fuzzy. Maybe the horizon between the two miffored images could have been placed higher or lower so that it became more defined. But it certainly feels watery. I do have fun doing these.
Apple tree blossom
Last year we got some blossom on our apple tree but very few fruit. This year despite cold wet and windy weather the tree is absolutely covered in blossom.
The tree is bent over and trained against our fence so our neighbours actually have more of the tree in their garden. I’m hoping the blossom gets pollenated but again I’ve seen very few insects because of the weather. Fingers are definitely crossed on this.
Flowery
I think this is wild garlic? I took the photo a year ago. I love having a, wild and wooly garden. I am concerned that my fruit trees came into blossom early I haven’t seen many insects about so I’m not sure if they have been fertilised. I can only wait.
Cherry and Pear blossom
The garden is starting to bloom. The pear trees were in blossom a few days ago, and the cherry tree has come into flower over the last couple of days. Over in the hedge a plum tree is blossoming too.
The only trouble is it’s windy and as yet I haven’t seen any bees or insects about. I hope they get to the nectar before the petals blow away. If I’m going to get any fruit this year the trees need pollinating. Fingers crossed for the crop.
May blossom
What’s your favorite month of the year? Why?
My favourite month is May, when blossom opens on trees, the sky turns a beautiful cerulean blue, and suddenly bees and insects wake up. Then I watch the blossom unfurl, tight buds become satin skirts and whirl outwards. Scent fills the air. Beware storms, thundering through the sky, their gusty winds can strip the flowers before they are pollenated, or frosts can burn their delicate petals. Their safety ensures a good crop of cherries or pears. Apples too can sink or swim depending on the weather.
May brings beauty in other forms, buds and leaves follow the blossom, the leaves stretch as water floods into their veins, brilliant greens or pinky mauves fill in the gaps between the twigs. Warm sun is absorbed as the leaves feed on the light. Photosynthesis is a miracle of nature. Clean air circulates, breezes stir, hedgerows grow and light up with May blossom.
Yes May is my favourite month, the warmth of the sun starts to return, days are longer, brilliant and lovely, if we are lucky we can enjoy the seasonal spectacle.
5 year old pears
Our pear tree grows lovely pears. These were sweet and juicy when they ripened. And big too. They are lovely baked into a pie or a cake, or just freshly sliced.
Pears seem to take ages to ripen, then suddenly they all get ripe at once. Five years ago we had a massive crop, this year much more meagre. Perhaps the tree blossom was too early, and the bees and other pollinators hadn’t emerged yet? Or maybe the wind blew the blossom off to soon. Hopefully next year will be a good crop?
Poor pears
Some years the pears set, the tree is well watered and we get many pears off our tree. But it’s looking sad as the wind blew it over at an angle a few years ago. We had to support it on blocks of wood.
As the branches are horizontal that usually encourages fruiting. But both the pear and cherry trees flowered but we’re caught by late frosts and then strong winds that blew the blossom off. The cherry only managed half it’s crop and now the pear is even worse. A few pears had a fungal infection and had to be thrown away, you can’t compost them as it encourages the fungus to spread. So we only have a few pears to show this year. Here are three. The little one is going squishy so it’s getting thrown out.
Pears are funny, they stay unripe for ages. Then seem to ripen overnight. We will just eat these, as there is not enough for a chutney.
White and red
At Biddulph Grange garden last year. I’m not sure what the stone signifies, but the frothy white blossom flowers of the bush contrast with the larger strong red colour of the flowers below it. I love the combination of colours together with the green of the grass and hedging. I love coming across views like this and my phone is crammed with images that I have taken over the years.
Mallaband-Brown 