Garden

The raspberries that were transplanted from the fence last summer finally decided to perk up. While the crop wasn’t amazing, there was a constant supply of berries for many weeks.

The bird netting worked with the corn, and other bird net frames were created with PVC as the wooden one weathered poorly.

Like the raspberries, the transplanted blackberries finally seemed happy in their new location and grapes either finally out of pots and in the ground or new bare root took off.

The hillside needed additional layers of retaining walls to keep it reasonable.  And more upright blackberries were planted in the area next to the paths.

Unfortunately all was not well.  Something was eating many of the young veggies faster than they could grow.

As the garden space was finally set up, this year it was time to work in making it look more like we wanted.  For the deck,  decorative boxes were located online that seemed to match well and could provide a nice edging to the deck.

Now that the berries were relocated, along the bed along the driveway fence had a few more herbs and drought resistant plants added.  Also, a retaining wall border was installed and some nice shredded cedar mulch topping it off.

The path to the back gate was evened out and another retaining border wall installed there as well.

Despite the “pruning” by our neighborhood deer last summer, most of the citrus trees that have been growing alongside our driveway are being productive this year. It seems strange to have fruit ripening at this time of year when very little else is actively growing. At the same time as the ripe fruit, the trees are putting out blossoms for the next batch.

This morning the orange juice I had for breakfast came from a Valencia orange tree that appears to have much more ripening than what I picked. I guessed (correctly) that number would be about right to fill the pitcher, and so I am set for the next week. The Morro blood orange was last week. It seems odd to have pink “orange” juice. It was not nearly as sweet as the Valencias.

The Meyer lemons are always juicy and the juice is in the freezer to make lots of lemonade for the warmer weather. Likewise, the juice from the Bearss limes went to the freezer. The mandarins were a seedless variety and went well with the orange chicken for dinner. No clue what to do with the Buddha’s hand citron or the Kieffer limes. At present they are just fun to see.

I thought I had almost finished with apples for the year. However when I went out to pick the expected handfull left on the trees, my basket was rather full. Plus I now know there is that much again not quite ready.   The smaller apples will end up being cored and chopped up for the juicer and will join the three quarts of cider in the freezer until the weather turns cold. Then a glass of warm cider is a perfect drink for a winter’s evening. I have been making pies and crisps with the larger apples. Usually there is one for the oven and several for the freezer for easy baking deserts long after the apples are gone from the trees.

My apple orchard was planted in 2013. Two dozen tiny sticks with different varieties grafted onto the dwarfing rootstock. They were planted four to a hole, very closely with the idea that when they matured it would look more like six trees as the trunks merged. At this point the trees seem to be more interested in producing fruit than growing. Most are closer to one inch in diameter than two inches and under six feet tall. The climate here does not have enough chill hours in the winter to work with many apple varieties, so it is nice to find such a bountiful harvest.

I probably do have to find some more apple recipes though.