Thinning Peaches

Ian's peach tree set a bumper crop, and in past years I have had broken branches and peaches elbowing each other out of the way, and so this year I thinned.

The peaches were mostly the size of cherries, although some were the size of peas. I tried to leave about one peach every six inches, and to favor the already large peaches over the pea-sized ones clinging tenuously to the branches, but like all things garden-ish there was not always a peach in the right spot, and I am not a ruthless gardener, so it's not entirely by the book, but here is the before:

...and here is the after:

Why thin peaches - or apples? So they don't touch each other and make homes for bugs to lay eggs So their snuggling shoulders do not leave a place where moisture can accumulate and cause rot. So I will have fewer but larger peaches (and more flavorful I hope). So the weight of the fruit does not break the branches. So the crop does not stress the tree. And (dirty little secret) because in our part of the world it is the custom and a sign of a well-tended orchard. Even though this is an orchard of one.

This is Ian's peach- you can read about it - and him - in my book, Postcards From The Hedge. It will make you laugh, it may make you cry. If you garden please feel free to be smug - I have done so many things wrong! and I hope it will make you smile, and look at your garden with a new appreciation. 

I am hoping this climbing rose is one that plays well with others - I have seen roses take down their hosts. There is a rose in England at Kiftsgate that has grown over 50 feet - in every direction. That rose could smother you while you were sleeping, or prevent your leaving in the morning. Feed me or else!

Hopefully this rose will grow into the peach tree without smothering it, and the peach tree will hold the rose up. A peach colored rose in a peach tree - I didn't plan it. Like most of the best things in the garden it was an accident. Like most of the worst things too, but that's for a morose rainy day not a sunny crisp spring day, when I am looking forward to peach juice running down my chin, and peach pie...

You are welcome to peaches if you're around when they ripen. I have a great recipe for Pickled Peaches I will post in peach season. And for peach jam  -- yum!

ramblings on an apple and a birdfeder

It is right outside the kitchen window. It is usually mobbed with birds - they got a sudden case of camera-shyness...or could it have been Boots, the neighbor's cat? Too big and too slow to catch anything.

A solo bird is cat food. Flocks of birds have sentries and are skittish  - I no longer see sad piles of soft feathers now that the birds are mobbing the feeders and travelling in packs.  They spook and are gone at the slightest movement.

The crabapple behind the feeder has finally opened its hot pink buds and is raining down soft pink petals. I have been paying more attention this year - one of the benefits of blogging. The peach was first, just after the daphne. Then the crabapples. Screaming pink buds open to almost white flowers, and they don't seem to mind some shade.

Gravenstein apple is next - possibly the most wonderful yummiest apple in the world. Check out Trees of Antiquity - horrid pompous name but great stuff. This is the company that used to be Sonoma Antique Apple Nursery. Remember Carolyn and Terry Harrison? Everyone's favorite normal kind wonderful grounded people. They started Sonoma Antique Apple Nursery and were always welcoming, attentive, engaging. Where are you now, Terry and Carolyn?

Did you ever go to one of their tastings? Not many things in the world will change the way you look at the world - their apple tastings would. They changed not only how you felt about apples but how you felt about humanity. If you went to their tasting you planted at least one apple, and every garden has room for at least one apple tree. For your health, to pick with your kids or grandchildren. Go get one. Now. They're on sale.

The world could use more Terry and Carolyn Harrisons. I miss them and hope they are happy, wherever they are.