Confused by a spring journey south I thought I might have missed the apple blossom…
but in Northumberland the trees were just coming into bloom. All the second year trees had at least a scattering of flowers and buds; some were completely covered. This one is Ashmead’s Kernel, an old English russet dating from around 1700.
The new trees had mostly been putting their energy into growing roots, except for the precocious Katy, a hardy 20th century variety raised in Sweden. That’s her in the foreground. All twelve apple trees in these two rows are different varieties and they are already showing their individuality.
The annual flower seeds I’d optimistically sown in March were sprouting fast as the soil warmed in the long days of sunshine. Once I’d finished weeding the beds I started transplanting densely packed seedlings to fill gaps in the new borders. They don’t look much now but give them another month…
The beech hedge, planted in February, still looked like a row of dead sticks when I arrived. Once the buds start to burst the new leaves expand with surprising speed.
For much of the fortnight my hands were too dirty to handle a camera. One blue-skied day followed another and I moved between weeding, sowing, transplanting and painting window frames, in between visits from family and friends. Now I’m back in Paris with a few hurried photos for the garden diary and a haze of sunlit apple blossom at the back of my mind.
May 19, 2018 at 12:46 am
How interesting and lovely to see your Northumberland garden! Thank you!
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May 19, 2018 at 8:18 am
I’m glad you enjoyed the visit!
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May 19, 2018 at 1:34 am
Gardening is such pleasure, once you get going.
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May 19, 2018 at 8:19 am
The first twenty minutes can be disheartening after a long break but after that I find it hard to stop!
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May 19, 2018 at 7:29 am
Wonderful. And I love it that you are planting such interesting apple varieties. Russets are a particular favourite of mine, but anything to get away from those few modern varieties dominating the supermarkets.
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May 19, 2018 at 8:23 am
Some of the varieties I’ve chosen are old friends but others, like Ashmead’s Kernel and the even more ancient Cat’s Head are new to me. I’ll be looking forward to the first harvest!
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May 19, 2018 at 9:29 am
I can’t wait to get back and see it in person. 🌻🌻🌻
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May 19, 2018 at 9:31 am
Not that long!
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May 20, 2018 at 4:15 am
It must have been bliss, Judith. I would love to see the progress. The borders you planted will be the first to show I expect. The apple blossoms are gorgeous.
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May 20, 2018 at 11:29 am
Bliss in a contentedly busy way. The photos were taken after a week’s weeding!
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May 20, 2018 at 12:08 pm
Looks great!
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May 21, 2018 at 6:06 am
Yes, this is very late for apples. I have seen Ashmead’s Kernel available in catalogues, but we have too many apple trees to add more
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May 21, 2018 at 8:46 am
It’s my first year gardening this far north – at 55° North we’re on a level with the southern tip of Alaska. I think May apple blossom may be the norm in Berwick!
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May 21, 2018 at 9:07 am
That is really far up there. I have never been north of Seattle. which is only halfway to Alaska.
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