Ellison’s Orange

The pink and white clusters of apple blossom survived the gale, last year’s crop was less than fifty apples so hoping this year will be better. Saw the dangly legged Hawthorn Fly for the first time, also named the St Mark’s Fly because it traditionally appears on 25th April, last year it flew on the 29th April and so it’s nearly a week later this year. The courgette seeds have sprouted after three weeks on the windowsill, no sign of the pumpkins, the tomatoes are looking ok in the greenhouse. Groomed the donkeys. A cold start to a day of lighter winds and warming sunshine.

Apple Harvest

There’s a good crop of Bramleys that will need picking soon, the windfalls are more than sufficient to keep us supplied with flavoursome stewed apple. The eating apple Beauty of Bath was the first to ripen, then there was a smaller crop of Ellison’s Orange. Ribston Pippen is still being picked and Darcy Spice will ripen last and keep longest. The Conference pears can be eaten off the tree or poached and the majority are given away. A lovely sunny and warm day with light winds; picked and watered the runner beans which are producing even more blossom. Picked tomatoes and a small water melon.

Bramley Apple

Ellison’s Orange

One of the 15 Left on the tree, there was a lot of blossom so must have caught the last frost, all the remaining fruits are under the canopy. This variety is mid season and juicier than its ancestor, the Cox. Over 24 hours of rain now, everything in the garden will be happier, not sure about the fencing company who are here to divide the lower paddock, they put their wellies on, unloaded the posts and wire, and left! They’ll be back tomorrow…..