The past week has been nasty, cold, windy. Tonight’s low is forecast to be 30° F, tomorrow 29°. And as I walked outside this evening I looked up and saw blossoms on our young apricot tree.
Now I’m the first to admit that I’m not very good at orchardry (that’s obviously not a word according to spell check). We only have six or seven young fruit trees, replacements for an older set of trees that bore sporadically. And the new batch hasn’t shown a lot more promise.
So you’ll understand that I stood there and said, “Seriously nature?”
You plant and tend new trees, wait patiently for several years, and then the cold wipes out another year’s crop in an evening.
I did what I could with my limited mental abilities; grabbed some spun fabric row cover from the barn, fought the 25 mph winds, and wrapped the tree. Like Larry, Moe and Curly led by Shemp. Not sure whether it’ll stay in place (it’s held together with clothes pins).
You’re beating your head against the wall when you get mad at nature. But sometimes you’d just like to give Ma Nature a good swift kick in her fat fanny.
vegetablurb 
Ugh yesterday was the windiest I’ve seen it at the farm but somehow the high almost reached 80! I’m hoping there are no more hard freezes because the buds are swelling on my bare root pawpaw, mulberry and filberts! The apples and walnuts are already leafing out!
LikeLiked by 1 person
80s! I wish. Wind is one of my least favorite natural forces. Good luck with the temps!
LikeLike
I hardly dare mention that we have had an unseasonably mild April so far and today was warm at about 17c but the weather will change tomorrow and night frosts and cold days forecast. I am sure your apricot will be ok. Did you hand pollinate the flowers? I always find this helps a lot because bees are a bit lazy about flying around in the cold and winds!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Truthfully I hadn’t even thought of hand pollinating, so thank you for the idea. pollinating fruit blossoms the same process as hand
LikeLike
…hit send before I wanted to. Is hand pollinating fruit blossoms the same process as hand pollinating say tomato blossoms? Just getting in there and stirring a little?
LikeLike
Yes. I use a small paint brush – the sort kids use not the sort for painting the shed! I do this with peaches too. I do it a couple of times as the flowers do not all shed pollen and have receptive stigmas at the same time. It takes a while but it is worth it for the better crop. Just brush the centre of each bloom. Nothing is better than picking and eating tree-ripened apricots – well maybe peaches and peas and… 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Excellent. Thanks so much for your help, and I’ll definitely be trying that.
LikeLike
Well done… Only the other day I asked Phil if we should put fleece on the blossom trees… I don’t think we will get around to it. I hope nature is not too unkind. 💜👒💜
LikeLiked by 1 person
I do too. Good luck!
LikeLike
Dan you my friend are amazing! Spring here is windy .. I mean super windy and the blossoms often get blown off (many don’t though). Oh I hope this works for you, I know just how you feel! Good luck ..
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Julie. I think you’re a little more advanced in your orchard skills than I am, judging from your fruit yields. But I’ll keep trying and maybe some day 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
It will happen ..😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Not sure if it was your intention but Dan I think your cover up is creative. I large decorative sculpture. I love it.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, I’ll look at it like that Sarhn! A big, fluffy sculpture.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It actually looks like one large blossom. Ahhh now all your readers think I have been smoking some kind of wacky weed. 😄
LikeLiked by 1 person
It’s a bummer when that happens, but your tactic looks promising to me. At least it isn’t a huge tree.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes Deby, I don’t know how many more years I’ll be able to do that. One more night.
LikeLike
Whoa! If we ever had a dip into the 20’s in aping here, I would think e world is coming to an end.
As I have young citrus and hibiscus, I’ve had success with wrapping in low watt holiday lights. Keeps them just warm and they’re pretty ta boot.
LikeLike
Dreadful, typing on a phone. LOL.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Haha, spellcheck is a killer.
LikeLiked by 1 person