BBH 465
Blueberry Hill report 465. Much has happened in the last couple of weeks in the vast (?) and joyous estate I like to call Blueberry Hill. The spring prep has been so occupying my time that I have been mostly away from the computer – and away from any writing. Meanwhile spring has definitely sprung in spite of a light scattered frost that threatened several of my plants but only nipped back my fig bushes – one of these is tree size.
About two thirds of the leaves of my largest fig were killed but now, a couple of weeks later, new ones are even forming on the limbs of the dead ones. This is a common spring ailment of figs since the leaves are very tender and susceptible to a late frost. The blueberries have blossomed, been pollinated by the bees and now the little green berries have formed – they were unaffected by the frost and normally ripen in the first part of June.
The paw paw trees have now put on leaves – they are always late to do so. Most of the blooms are gone and several fruits have formed – all of the four have at least one small fruit forming, with one having several. Big hopes that this will be the year that I get to taste a paw paw fruit. Both the Cornelian cherry trees have leaved out but they still haven’t made an effort at forming fruit. The Juneberry trees have blossomed and leaved.
The very tiny pecan tree has yet to put on a leaf – it is always late to do so – hopefully it hasn’t croaked. The hazelnuts on both ends of the house had to be extensively pruned back and they are now in almost full leaf. This brings me around to the spot in which four fig bushes resided and were struggling due to last year’s frost. I decided to move them down the hill toward the pond and put other plants in their place.
Three were moved and one was discarded. In their place I purchased and planted four pomegranate bushes and three pineapple guava. They are very small and it will be two or three years before any fruit is realized. Still on the bedroom end of the house there are the two blueberry rows. Major efforts have been made in the last couple of weeks to get all the weeds and grass out and straw placed. Also a border around one row is now complete.
The weeds and grass had quite a hold on this area but they had to let go – the bushes that have been cleaned around are starting to look healthier. Behind the house the pear tree has bloomed, leaved and fruit has started – I may have to cull some of it so the branches won’t break. The muscadines are putting out new leaves and vines and seem to be doing well. The older blueberry patch needs some attention but that will come later.
Meanwhile the garden has been tilled and was planted on April 17th. The cucumbers came up first, with the squash close behind – the okra is even breaking through now. The tomato row has 24 plants residing therein but several of them don’t seem to be doing well – I have four spares if they croak. The two varieties I planted this year are Celebrity and Better Boy. Today I saw a few blooms already formed – the plants are still small.
Have I mentioned to anyone that spring is my favorite time of year, the time when all of God’s creation comes back to life and I am constantly awed by the viewing thereof. ec
About two thirds of the leaves of my largest fig were killed but now, a couple of weeks later, new ones are even forming on the limbs of the dead ones. This is a common spring ailment of figs since the leaves are very tender and susceptible to a late frost. The blueberries have blossomed, been pollinated by the bees and now the little green berries have formed – they were unaffected by the frost and normally ripen in the first part of June.
The paw paw trees have now put on leaves – they are always late to do so. Most of the blooms are gone and several fruits have formed – all of the four have at least one small fruit forming, with one having several. Big hopes that this will be the year that I get to taste a paw paw fruit. Both the Cornelian cherry trees have leaved out but they still haven’t made an effort at forming fruit. The Juneberry trees have blossomed and leaved.
The very tiny pecan tree has yet to put on a leaf – it is always late to do so – hopefully it hasn’t croaked. The hazelnuts on both ends of the house had to be extensively pruned back and they are now in almost full leaf. This brings me around to the spot in which four fig bushes resided and were struggling due to last year’s frost. I decided to move them down the hill toward the pond and put other plants in their place.
Three were moved and one was discarded. In their place I purchased and planted four pomegranate bushes and three pineapple guava. They are very small and it will be two or three years before any fruit is realized. Still on the bedroom end of the house there are the two blueberry rows. Major efforts have been made in the last couple of weeks to get all the weeds and grass out and straw placed. Also a border around one row is now complete.
The weeds and grass had quite a hold on this area but they had to let go – the bushes that have been cleaned around are starting to look healthier. Behind the house the pear tree has bloomed, leaved and fruit has started – I may have to cull some of it so the branches won’t break. The muscadines are putting out new leaves and vines and seem to be doing well. The older blueberry patch needs some attention but that will come later.
Meanwhile the garden has been tilled and was planted on April 17th. The cucumbers came up first, with the squash close behind – the okra is even breaking through now. The tomato row has 24 plants residing therein but several of them don’t seem to be doing well – I have four spares if they croak. The two varieties I planted this year are Celebrity and Better Boy. Today I saw a few blooms already formed – the plants are still small.
Have I mentioned to anyone that spring is my favorite time of year, the time when all of God’s creation comes back to life and I am constantly awed by the viewing thereof. ec
PS - The photos are of green blueberries, baby pears, fig tree with leaves of various sizes due to the frost and the blueberry beds on the bedroom end of the house - with one row cleaned out and strawed - the second row has barely been started.
posted by mreddie | 1:35 PM
3 Comments:
I recognized the blue berry bushes and fruit right away.... I'm glad you listed each thing at the bottom of the post... as I didn't recognize all of them...
Reading your posts, I miss the seasons (but the feeling passes when I remember the joy of shoveling snow and driving on ice).
I'll take my chances with the earthquakes.
Very Happy Mother's day to all of you.
ancient one - Our blueberries are less than a month from being ripe and looking good.
Granny - We seldom if ever have any snow that sticks - we did have a day that saw flurries most of a whole day but only enough to stick on top of a few cars and houses. ec
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