Peaches and Plums

in homesteading •  7 years ago 

After the cherry blight this spring due to cooler than normal temps and less sun than normal I am thrilled that some of my other garden friends were not wiped out -- the peaches and plums are not gonna put off bumper crops like my all my berry varieties did, yet, I am just grateful to get some of these sweet peachy and plummy gems to enjoy fresh this season.

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This saturn peach (above) is only three years old and really struggled this last winter and spring as it's been a very cold year, however, it is putting off a few fruits for a young tree that was stressed. I've had to cut back a lot of dead branches, sadly. If the weather continues to be more chilly than warm I will cover it. I've been adding a lot of rocks this summer and more plantings in the fruit grove to try and change the micro-zone a bit, we shall see.

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This is a plum from a 100 year old tree that usually puts off a bumper crop yearly. I've been aware that it's age would start to play in the production, especially with this crazy weather and here we are... a hand full of fruits and a heavy heart for a tree friend that has been good to me and those that came before me. I'm putting in new fruit trees every year but I just love these oldies with the beautiful patina of age on the bark and twisted gnarly branches.

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This is my other elderly plum and she is still doing well -- this one puts out most of her fruit way up high so I need to get the orchard ladder to pick her sweet fruits but all is still good with her as it looks like a solid crop this year.

I try and plant as many dwarf fruit and nuts trees as possible as it's just easier but all my mature trees are the heirloom varieties of large type.

I hope you have some fresh fruit today. <3

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What a blessing to have such an ancient gift giving tree that has gifted many generations with its delicious fruit🌱💜

I know... I am always in awe of old trees, what a gift to use. They can live so long and they give so much back.

<3

It's so true, I always wonder what they've been through and endure. I always talk to mine, I just feel they are so grandfatherly in a way.

Lovely day my friend.

I am so with you -- I talk to my green friends too and make no apologies for it. HA.

<3

Aww you call them your green friends! :)
Lovely Wednesday friend!

I am such a nerd like that. lol

Haha and there is nothing wrong with that :)

That fruit looks wonderful. We had a problem with our cherries this year...the birds got to them all on our property, but fortunately, we have many wild trees of many varieties in our area, including cherries and we were able to go and pick a few small buckets this year. Now we are waiting for our wild plums to come in. It seems there are about 4 different varieties growing throughout this region of Idaho, and they are small, but super sweet. Hope your summer goes well and keep us up with how these trees do this year.

How wonderful that you got to have some wild cherries. Cherries are my favorite fruit and I have always looked forward to pickin' time, so this was a sad year here. There are lots of wild fruit trees around here but I have not encountered any cherry yet. Also, there are so many people these days harvesting from the "wilds" (as I am not that far from a larger city) that I always seem to miss out on most things, except the lesser known stuff like, pine pollen and the likes. The birds and squirrels are always an issue -- those damn squirrels and my mature nut trees, well, it's war. hahaha. I'm willing to share but they just devour it all if they can.

Idaho is one of my favorite states. I keep saying that I'm going to move there and yet it's so hard to leave this property that I have put years (not to mention monies and elbow grease) into, some of the stuff I planted in the beginning are just now starting the produce for me.

Thank you for this lovely interaction and I hope your harvest is large and delicious. :-)