Tuesday, May 8, 2012

Overwhelmed in the orchard...

I have so many things to post about that I kind of froze up and stopped posting.    Where to begin...

First, I have been planting like crazy.  Before we went to Minnesota, my loving husband tilled between the rows of the orchard and I planted potatoes and sweet corn.  It is dry land sweet corn, as I am not hauling water.  So far after three weeks, nothing.  I still have hope.  We have had PLENTY of rain and warm weather.  The plants have no excuse.  

When we returned from Minnesota the plants I had ordered from the county extension agency arrived.  I got five Zestar Apples, five Caroline Raspberries, and five Souris Raspberries. 

The orchard is my retirement plan.  By the time I retire (17 more years) it should be in full swing (October 29, 2029 to be exact) and I will be sitting on the porch drinking wine and eating toast and jam through the fruits of my labors (and my husbands).  Not that it is something I think about much (ALL THE TIME).  Didn't know a few plants could start such a tirade did you?:)

Anyway back on subject, the apples turned out to be humongous.  It said 3-4 feet, so I was picturing some little twigs. like we used to get when I was a kid.  They were over 7 feet tall.



Most people blog about the photos they take and how their husbands are indulgent of their hobby.  My husband has taken to taking photos of me gardening for the blog.  He is kind of treating it as a new type of hunting season.  He said it was like bow season only he considers it Bonnie Season.  He says I'm easier to sneak up on this time of year, because I'm focused on gardening.  While I was out planting raspberries in the orchard, he snuck up and snapped some pictures of me in action.  I have to admit he is getting good, Ella didn't even see him.  Yes Dad, I'm still wearing the floppy hats.  It hides my face so well, especially when people are hiding behind trees taking photos of me:)
 

I think I am done with the orchard now.  I have 5 sand cherries, 5 wild plum, 7 naking cherries, 7 buffalo berries, 3 apple trees, 1 cherry tree, 3 red lake currents, 5 black chokecherries, 2 mulberries, 10 raspberries, 4 grapes, and 4 black berries. 

Outside of the fence planted around the property are 2 black walnut, 2 hazelnuts, 3 apple trees, 1 grape, 1 high bush cranberry, 2 low bush blueberries, 2 Harrilson apple trees, 1 Dolgo crabapple, 50 tame strawberries, and uncounted tame raspberries.  

Growing wild around the place are tons of Saskatoons, thimbleberries, an apple tree, strawberries, chokecherries, and raspberries. 

Now you can see why I call it bees, birds, BERRIES, and blooms.  If I ever have a good year where they all produce I could be in wine, jam, and syrup heaven and will probably have a hell of a belly ache.  Or I could have a bad winter and the story ends there.  Guess only time will tell.  As I always say, "hope springs eternal."

Farmgirl Friday Blog Hop



15 comments:

  1. Wow! I'd say you've been BUSY! I'd love to be there when those raspberries are ripe...I just love them!

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  2. What a lot of hard work...it will reward you though. A most beautiful site you live on.

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  3. I love love love your retirement plan. I also love that your husband has a great hobby.
    The hat is wonderful. Hug B

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  4. Love the photos of you in the garden . Papa here sometimes takes photos of me doing out door stuff but I am the main camera person and it feels weird being on the other end lol WOW ! you have been busy ,everything sounds like its going well there in your neck of the woods I am glad . Have a wonderful day !

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  5. Lovely new trees, I have the reverse happen with mail order, but they all grow.I think you will need to redo the corn, something was not ready.It is up all over around me.

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  6. That is going to be one huge orchard and berry patch when all is grown and ready to pick. I wear a floppy hat too to garden but my husband is not retired yet so no chance he'll take photos of me.

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  7. "Bonnie Season" - love it!

    I haven't been updating or reading blogs for a while, life has just been that way here, but I've enjoyed catching up on yours today!

    PS - I love the floppy hat!

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  8. Goodness Gracious, girl! You have been busy!! I enjoyed your retirement plan... go girl! And as for your husband's "Bonnie Season", he has done a great job. I loved the picture of you with the huge apple trees. It is soo good to see the sweet face behind the posts, isn't it? You are a sweetheart.
    xoxo

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  9. I love the pics of you gardening! Bonnie Season..that's perfect! I am in such awe of all the berries and fruit tree's you have planted. My hat's off to you! Cheers, Jenni

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  10. I love the sound of your retirement plan! Your hubby is pretty good at catching you with the camera. I love that he considers it a new hunting season.

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  11. Well, I'm keeping my fingers crossed that your retirement plan works out. Looking forward to seeing what you make with all that wonderful fruit!

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  12. WOW! You have been busy. I'm starting to come to the conclusion that I need to bloom where I am planted and start putting in a mini orchard here in my front yard. I all ready have blackberries planted out there. I love that your husband is getting photos of you while you are working... so sweet. Scott always tells me that he really loves to watch me work... I always say ,"GEE THANKS... I think". LOL

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  13. I can vow that I'm one of the lucky recipients of the "fruits of your labor!" I especially loved the Thimbleberry! Can't wait to see how your orchard grows and produces. Enjoy your gardening dear friend, XOXO

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  14. Well, I have NO idea why you hadn't had time to post! LOL. What a lot of work. Glad you have some help there. Can't wait to see how things progress over the summer and fall!

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  15. sounds like fun, digging in the dirt. and berries are so yummy! the babes keep eating all of our berries as they grow. oh well! have fun watching them grow and produce.

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