The Good. I spent a long time in the bees, doing the spring check and cleaning up. These strips of honey-filled comb was scraped off the tops of the frames. They were beginning to build for the season. I had to give them more frames and I placed a honey box up above the brood boxes. The Bad. These strawbs have already been kissed by Mother Nature’s icy lips. It is a shame, there were about ten with black faces. It is important to tell that these were damaged whilst they were still in their green bud form. I never realised that buds could be ruined when they are in this stage. Next year, I can take protective measures. The Ugly. More wind and cold damage. These ugly buds are Wisteria. Last year It was Riley’s Wisterias, this year it’s my turn. I reckon I have lost more than 2/3rds of blooms. It’ very sad. I believe that Riley had a second flush of blooms. In normal years My Wists bloom three tines a season— each successive bloom burst less than the one before. Fingers crossed for a better showing later on. This Arisaema is of Norwegian origin and still hanging on. The wood anemones also have Norwegian DNA. Those were the white and blue ones, across the path, just out of sight are yellow ones. A closer look at a different clump: While I was in the bees, my Bride waded into the laurel. She was about half way through her assignment here, for it was pause time of course. The apple tree (Moonlight) is heavily in bloom. Looking over towards the veggie plots. I made a couple of furrows for the leeks to go into. The broad beans required netting...you can also see the delicate Sugar Snaps with protective cage and rack. This Exochorda makrantha ‘The Bride’ was a gift and it is looking very good now. My Bride pruned it year before last and now it makes even more blooms. One doesn’t actually need to prune them, but my Bride has pruner’s rights. Yesterday I was working and lounging-about in shorts and no shirt, today my teeth are chattering. Right then, nothing for it but to head back home and do some more planting. We have more room now that we have planted some things out. We planted three types of beans, some courgettes. The planted-on toms are beginning to look pretty good now. I think that I am caught up now, so it is tea and bikkies at home this afternoon. Here’s wishing each of you a successful beginning to the season.
Looks wonderful. Sorry about the frost/snow damage. Mother Nature certainly keeps us hopping. Hopefully the strawbs put out new flowers in a second spring.
What a shame your strawberries and wisteria have suffered from the cold. Fingers crossed they're not too damaged and that the weather will improve for them soon. Thankfully everything else seems to be OK especially the apple tree. Our garden is slowly coming back to life although we've had to do second plantings of tomatoes, Swiss chard and peppers as even with them being in the greenhouse it was too cold for them first time around.
Thanks Mel. There are lots more green buds. Fingers crossed that not all of them will be damaged. I shall just have to wait and see. My goodness Eileen, I had no idea that you folks over there were having such troubles with the cold. Our Swiss chard was planted outside and was not damaged, mercifully. I hope that your second plantings will take. Weird weather. I call it “weird” because it isn’t going my way.
I had the same thing this year too, I had one or two flowers open at the time of the heavy frosts. Since then I have hundreds of flowers that have opened black since then. The more recent flowers are normal now.
I am hoping for that, Odif...but I am still getting blackfaces. Oh well, next year better, or like you say— perhaps later, newer ones will be oké.
It was perfect for this disaster. After a mild March and then a couple of weeks of heavy rain, a few days of heavy frosts and now this.
@Sjoerd I really enjoy looking at your garden and reading your updates. I envy you, your honeybees. I have an apple called "Blushing Delight". It's the same as "Moonlight", just a different name. Tasty apples.
So sorry for your frost damage, Sjoerd. You still have a lovely display of flowers, though. Our Anemone nemorosa have just started, the Arisaema are no-shows still, and our fruit and berries had the good sense to not bloom in March, probably due to much lower temps here than there.
Odie— I bent down and inspected the strawbs and there were so many black-faced blooms I just gave up counting. What a shame. Oh well, gardening is sometimes a hard companion. Thanks Daniel. Perhaps I will name my new queen, Daniëlle in your honour. “Blushing Delight”, that is interesting. I did not recall “Moonlight” having another name. Live and learn. My Bride is fond of the applesauce we make from them. Droopy— Thanks for your words. It must be the temp difference that has put the brakes on your plants.
Here are some more strawberry pictures. I have just been mulching with woodchips. These strawberries are doing well. The currant bushes sticking out had no frost damage. They are 2 year old cuttings.
Looking good there, Odif. I will wait with my mulching until I have some normal berries showing...if I even will have any. I am feeling a bit somber about my strawbs. Anyhow, it is fantastic that you are now having normal blossoms. That piccy of yours is great to see, mate. Is the rest of your veggies coming along oké?
