Acair Fearann

to update my tree list at some point….

Despite the rather absurd weather swings, we have several new plants this year: a false hydrangea vine (still in its pot, I know) and a weeping Serbian Spruce are the only two brand new species. But there are several new cultivars of roses, hydrangeas, magnolias, apples, azaleas, and junipers. The last is a replacement for the big Pfitzer Juniper that blocked the view on the west lawn; hopefully this compact form really will be compact.  If it isn’t, however, it is not placed so that it will block the view.

I suppose that is more than several? Now can I remember all the names correctly? Probably not!

I am not counting those in pots, in particular the fig. Though, I may gamble with the fig and plant it against the south basement porch. The gamble is that a) it will overwinter there and b) that the roots won’t invade.  There is no foundation on that end (just piers and sills) but still, I hope I won’t regret this.

One Response »

Amaryllis, that is.  All trundled in to the basement now, hopefully to dry out in a correct fashion and set flower buds. Last year our percentage was so-so. The year before all but one bloomed.  Now, granted, they mostly bloomed in April or May….  We don’t have any that manage Christmas here.  Sometimes a Christmas cactus will be timed correctly, but they too are usually later (January-February).  Or, annoyingly, much earlier.  The cactus are still cooling off outside, hopefully that will trigger some decent flower set at the appropriate time.

Then there are the Jasmine….those plants that require not only cool but dark. We think that we have a section of house that will work for that this year, due to no guests being likely.  Something about a plant that holds one hostage over the light switch and use thereof….

Comments Off on Nineteen!

The Chinese associate them with immortality…as for me….I associate them with the poisoned fruit* of the first Mary Stewart novel about Merlin and King Arthur (‘The Crystal Cave’). They are wonderful, without peer, when perfect and ripe. Fresh peaches, peach pie, peach cobbler, peach jam, all glorious.

But fleeting and prone to treachery. For a lovely peach tree can turn to rot. As ours did this year. A long battle with some sort of disease has meant that unless perfectly pruned (which it is not) the peaches mold before they ripen. Consequently, pretty much every available bit of counter space is covered with peaches right now (let its generosity not be questioned). I foresee much freezing, and some canning of the more perfect ones, in my future. Hopefully, as they ripen off the tree, we can work with them.

*I know, it was apricots, but the connection holds! Besides, I have never been sure that immortality wouldn’t be treachery in the long run, or at least a very bad joke, on someone’s part. Or maybe using peaches to symbolize immortality is an illustration of the paradox?

Comments Off on Peaches