Tales From the Orchard

I was trying to make this one sound like an L.M. Montgomery book. Ha!

Not quite.

So, the orchard.

I am sad to relate that it is dwindling.

We lost another tree this year--I believe it was a plum?

It was already the most sickly of the bunch, then when the Attack of the Aphids happened in early summer, it succumbed completely.

Cut it down and pulled up the roots, which weren't very big actually.

Maybe that was part of the problem.

Also, our sweet cherry tree experienced some die-off as well.

Specifically, the half of the tree that had been grafted in.

All along, there's been this crack where the graft didn't take right.

Anyway, this summer all the branches attached to the grafted portion died off. They were pretty good-sized, too, which was sad.

So I took out my pruning saw and hacked off half the tree.

This tree also suffered badly with the aphids. 

I need to get some kind of spray or something for next year. They were so bad!!

We'll see if it makes it through the winter.

So as of now, we have 1 cherry tree, 2 apple trees, 2 peach trees, and 1 plum tree in the orchard itself, plus the big apple tree on the side of the house, and the 1-year old pie cherry planted in the oval bed.

Our best crop this year was: 

APPLES!

All from the side tree. The two in the orchard didn't even bloom.

This one, though, was loaded!

Most groups of the apples had 4-6 apples developing on them.

I went through in June and July and thinned them down to 1-3 apples per bunch, which noticeably gave them all room to grow to be full-sized.

Didn't spray this one, and there were some worms, so may have to look into that for next year.

The apples were very mild-flavored.

We harvested a couple of buckets, plus a big crate full.

I used quite a few as additions to applesauce with more tart apples, and the rest I ended up slicing, blanching, and freezing.

PEACHES

Both of our trees had a good number of peaches on them this year!

I should have thinned them the way I did the apples.

As it was, we ended up with a bucket full of very small peaches.

Tasty, for sure, but a pain to process!

I'm trying to remember what became of them.

I think most of these from our orchard became jam, due to size.

The plums were a gift from our  neighbor.

Peaches were ours.

Look how beautiful they were!

Interestingly enough, the other peach tree didn't have nearly so many, but they were quite big.

Also, they ripened 2-3 weeks later than the smaller ones.

I was afraid I had missed the harvest window, because they were so bitter when we first tried them.

Nope, they sweetened up, but not until early September or so.

So, note to self for next year: leave them on the tree and don't worry about them!

Our plum tree didn't do anything this year.

Well, I take that back.

It lived. That was good.

It was looking great prior to the aphids, then it was touch-and-go there for a month or so.

Finally pulled out of it, but no fruit this year.

The pie cherry didn't make any noticeable progress, but I'm hoping it takes off next year.

Also, I've got to add in a little note about RASPBERRIES.

They have struggled!

I planted new starts this spring, trying to fill in the spaces where the ones from last fall didn't do anything. No luck there either. They all died.

So then I moved my raspberry patch--what was left of it--from the back of the orchard, to inside the garden proper, all along the fence. I had a few survive the summer. Not as many as I had hoped.

I got some free plants from a lady who was tearing out her whole flowerbed.

I dug up more starts from my dad's lawn (former raspberry patch), and planted them.

Still struggling to live, even with the regular watering in the garden.

I have never had this much trouble with raspberries!

Here's hoping they all make it through the winter with flying colors and actually grow big and tall and give me some berries at some point! 

Still want to put in grapes and possibly strawberries.

So overall a mixed bag this year, but hey--YAY PEACHES!

Raspberry Patch

I got our raspberry patch started!

It's in the far back corner of the orchard; down by the compost bin, close to the fence.

It doesn't look like much right now, but I'm hoping it will thrive!

(I'm also hoping the deer don't eat the plants!)

If you squint you can see a few leaves poking up here and there.

I put in 2 different types of raspberries, 5 of each kind.

'Caroline' 

Everbearing; large, very flavorful fruit; it is very vigorous and disease resistant.

'Heritage'

Everbearing; large, firm, sweet, dark red berry; superior quality all purpose raspberry.

Harvest June & October.

I'm already looking forward to a harvest in October!
Usually by then I'm done canning the other fruit, so that would be a perfect time for some jam-making. Also, I'm hoping with everbearing raspberries there will be enough to keep my little foragers satisfied and even bring some inside too!

So, apparently there are 2 different methods for pruning everbearing raspberries.

1) You can simply cut all canes down to the ground in the spring.
Easy enough, but then you won't get the July crop.

2) Top off the 1-year old floricanes (green), which will produce your July crop.
Cut all 2-year-old canes (brown) down to the ground.
The new primocanes growing up will produce your fall harvest.
Also easy. Raspberries are nice to color-code themselves that way!

I will probably go with the second method, particularly as I enjoy pruning raspberries.
10 plants does not seem like much right now, but raspberries generally fill in fairly quickly.
We haven't put up any supports yet, but there's still time.
 

The Wonders of Pruning + Spring Chores

Hey look! It bloomed!

Remember the forsythia bush at the top of our slope that I pruned last summer?

Last year I just happened to notice a few yellow flowers at the very tips of some of the branches, which was the only thing that tipped me off that it was a forsythia.

It was way overdue for a pruning.

Well, what do you know?

It's covered with blossoms this spring!

It has been quite satisfying to look up there and see how pretty it is, knowing that I had a hand in that!

I don't know that anyone else has even noticed it, but it makes me happy!

In other news, I finally got out and got the raspberries pruned last Saturday.

I'm actually a bit concerned about the old raspberry patch.

Several of the old canes I cut down had a nasty white grub hiding out in the middle of them, right at ground level. In the same area, there weren't any healthy fruit-producing canes for this year.

If there were any canes at all after I took out the old, they were spindly and short.

I killed all the grubs I could find, (GROSS!) pulled out all the dead pieces of canes, and even dug around the roots a bit, too.

Even though I won't be around to see the end of it (NMP), I hate to leave it in such a state.

I've done some reading on various extension websites and I think they may be Raspberry Crown Borer--the larvae of a clear-winged moth that has the coloring of a wasp.

I do remember seeing what I thought were wasps around the raspberry patch last year.

I probably did not get them all.

My apologies, future home owners!

Yuck. Grubs are just gross.

Also, they squirt when you kill them. Sorry--TMI, I know.

Meanwhile, the black raspberry canes were going crazy: sliding through holes in the fence to invade the neighbor's yard and sending long shoots behind the shed.

Showing their parentage there, I guess.

Sidenote: those canes are a pretty color right now, kind of a powdery blue, but super prickly.

Anyway, it was obvious some extra means of restraint were needed, so I put up a line of twine through the middle of that side of the bed for them to drape over.

They're much more drapey than the other raspberries.

I also yanked them back through the fence and chopped off about a foot off most of the ends to stop the leggy growth and get them to settle into fruit production.

I am curious what the fruit will taste like--too bad I won't be around for that!

Finished up the day's work by pruning the hydrangeas.

Everything looks so much better once it has been pruned!

Well, ok. The roses maybe not so much.

They look pretty bare.

Never fear, though, they will fill in quickly over the summer!

The rest, though. Definite improvement all around.

Then after I had cleaned up and come in, I looked out back and realized I didn't get the oregano cut back. Strawberries could probably use it too.

Next sunny day.

Meanwhile, my 9-year-old begged to rototill the garden.

So I let him!

Didn't want to deprive the boy.

Garden Harvest, past 2 weeks

The best thing about August is all the vegetables that start pumping out the produce!

So far, we've just been eating the tomatoes fresh or on sandwiches.

The squash has been a side dish a couple of times now.

Yes, those are blackberries in the bowl at the top.

We have a wild blackberry vine at the very tippy-top of our slope.

We have talked a little bit about how skinny is too skinny to pick cucumbers. :)

I'm excited for all these cucumbers and beans!

I dropped the ball on the beans and didn't get any planted in the empty spaces this year, so we probably will just get enough to eat fresh. That's okay. We'll enjoy them while we have them!

Good thing we really like cucumbers!

We've been eating 1-2 per day. It's awesome.

 * * * * *

What are you harvesting from your garden lately?

Of Raspberries & Pie Cherries

This has truly been a banner year for raspberries!

Our own patch has produced more than it ever has, and we have had 3 different friends invite us to pick at their houses. Yes!

We thought we were in berry-picking heaven at the first friend's house.

In about an hour and half, this how many we got.

Then we went to the next friend's house. It was amazing!

There were huge tall bushes, loaded with clusters of large, ripe berries!

In the same amount of time as the day before, we got 3x as many--roughly half a gallon.

It was pouring rain and we were completely soaked (but happy!)

By the time we got to the third friend's patch (the next week) we were on a roll.

There weren't as many, but we didn't mind!

We have picked pie cherries twice: once at a neighbor's down the street, and once at a friend's house. (It being the first year, I didn't expect to get any from our tree.)

So....what in the world do you do with a whole bunch of raspberries and pie cherries?

For raspberries, you eat them fresh every way you can think of first. (Of course!)
Pie cherries--you can make some fresh cherry crisp or cherry pie.

After that, you probably want to think about preserving them somehow.

1. The easiest way to preserve them is to freeze them.

Berries and cherries both freeze very well, although I would say sweet cherries are better for freezing on their own. When it comes to pie cherries I add some sugar! (see #2)
Also for the cherries, you may want to cut each one in half after pitting them to make sure you haven't missed any, especially if you plan to use them in smoothies. (Pit slivers in your smoothie = no bueno.)

After they are rinsed (and pitted,) spread them out in a single layer onto a cookie sheet--as big as will fit into your freezer. Freeze them for 2-3 hours.

At that point, scoop them into a Ziplock bag and put them back into the freezer.

(Much easier to use than having a solid block of frozen fruit.)

Fruit frozen this way can still be used in jam later, if you are so inclined, or in baked goods, smoothies, as ice cream toppings, etc.

2. Make freezer jam or freezer pie filling.
If you use Instant Pectin for your freezer jam you don't even have to cook it!
I usually just use the recipe on the inside of the label of the pectin container.
In general, you will need to rinse and mash up your berries (potato mashers work well), before adding the sugar and pectin. Stir it around, let it sit for about 30 minutes, and you're done!
So easy! Put it in freezer-safe containers and call it a day.

You can also use Classic or Low-Sugar Pectin for freezer jam, but you have to cook the jam for a short time. (If you don't do that, the pectin doesn't dissolve and is very gritty. Ask me how I know. Ha!) I don't like the flavor of cooked raspberries as much, so I stick with the Instant for them.

There are a couple of different recipes in the Ball Blue Book for freezer sour cherry pie filling (or just freezing the pie cherries in a sugar syrup.) I did the one where you add cornstarch and sugar, then cook it on the stove for a few minutes to let it thicken.
It makes last-minute dessert so easy and delicious!

3. Experiment!

(L-R: raspberry freezer jam, freezer cherry pie filling, cherry raspberry jam) 

For the first time this year, I made some Sour Cherry-Raspberry Jam, using this recipe from Taste of Home magazine. It is so good! (It is cooked, then processed in a hot-water bath.)

The tart cherry compliments the sweeter raspberries to perfection.

The cooked raspberry flavor that I don't like is all but covered up. Yay!

Our bushes are about done producing for the year, but if we get any more raspberries, I've got a promising-looking recipe for Raspberry Peach Freezer Jam to try next.

Folks, this is going to be good!

[In other news, we might need a bigger freezer...]

June EOMV: Days of Peas and Raspberries

Welcome!

I garden in Eastern Washington state, USA.

So, it looks like I have pretty much all the same things blooming as I did 2 weeks ago for June Bloom Day. That's one thing about these summer perennials--they tend to stick around longer!

So, once again I tried for more overview photos, with maybe a closeup here and there.

We must start in the vegetable garden.

After some heat waves, that led to 2+ weeks of cool weather, we're back to getting the summer sun!

The tomatoes have really taken off, and the potatoes seem to grow visibly every time I water them.

Here's the whole vegetable garden, plus the cutting garden. :) 

I did have to replant my cucumbers.

I think there were too many colder nights in early June (no frost, but high 30's F), and I did not cover them as I should have.

The potatoes are on the top terrace, there, looking fantastic!

Fresh garden peas are one of life's great delights.

Also, that was the best-looking lettuce out there, growing in my youngest son's patch.

It was delicious for lunch. :)

Moving right along, we have the shade bed, behind the shed:

Then on the other side, we have this little flowerbed:

 Don't look too closely at the hanging basket--I'm having a devil of a time keeping it watered!

Cheerful coreopsis in bloom.

Then around the corner, to the raspberry patch along the fence:

We have raspberries!

The kids go out and forage several times a day!

I beat them to it this morning. :)

These are the new black raspberries planted last fall.

They are all looking very healthy.

I have high hopes for next summer.

My back flowerbed, next to the house, is a bit sparse at the moment:

We got all of the spring bulb foliage cleared out and now there's several quite large bare spots, as you can see. I'm still thinking about what to plunk in there.

At least I've got some lilies blooming back there.

This one is 'Hall's Pink.'

Moving around front now, the front porch bed:

I noticed recently that there's a white and green theme going on here, unplanned.

This oakleaf hydrangea is one of my favorite shrubs.

It has really put on a lot of growth this year.

  

The front terraced beds look much the same as they did 2 weeks ago, except I've had a few more Asiatic daylilies open up.

This is the view of the middle terrace from above.

I love it!

Just a quick note on this abundant catmint:

it started out in my garden as a pass-along, spent an entire winter uncovered in its 8-inch pot, and finally got planted in the ground the following spring when I noticed a few new leaves sprouting.

Just look at it now!

 It's enormous!

It is always covered with bees, wasps, flies, and butterflies.

Head on over to Helen's blog at The Patient Gardener, for some more beautiful gardens!

Thanks for the visit, and come again soon!

May End-of-Month Views

Hello, and welcome to my garden!

I live in Eastern Washington state, USA, zone 5b.

This time around I've decided to take a few steps back for my "views," and do more general overviews of the beds.

So, here we go!

Starting out front, next to the porch, here is the porch bed:

Bleeding hearts are done now, and the oakleaf hydrangea hasn't started blooming yet, but it's close.

Okay, I can't resist a few close-ups.

I really like the various colors/sizes of leaves here, and that pop of pink from the heuchera.

Also--bright photo--but the spirea is blooming!

Moving down some, to the end of the driveway, you can see my 3 front terraces in all their glory:

This strip of sod in front is new--so we're still in the stage of watering it once a day.

I'm excited that my "William Shakespeare' English rose (right in front here) is filling in so well!

It has reached the top of the wall!

I absolutely love these sky-blue irises.

Interestingly enough, they have a slightly different scent than the purple.

Sometimes, I go out and just smell the irises for several minutes!

Okay, moving on up and around to the east-side terrace:

The 'Rose Queen' salvia blooming already.

It's kind of a thug, but a pretty one--and it's easy to pull out where you don't want it.

My salvia here is badly crowded by the sorbaria, but I love the color combination so much that I'm hesitant to move it.

The orange in the background is a columbine (a pass-along). There's also nepeta (catmint)--the billowing purple--oh, and some wild daisies.

Ninebark's blooming now.

My 3 little butterfly bushes have tiny blooms on them--hard to see here.

Now we're in the back yard.

Here's what my vegetable garden looks like at the moment:

Mostly doing fine.

My spinach get some kind of disease, so I just pulled it all up yesterday.

We've been harvesting lots of butter lettuce (the package spilled when my son was planting it!)

A few more to go!

The shed bed:

The irises are holding this bed together right now!

I need to fill in a few spots where the flowers died over the winter.

The pretty little geum isn't too shabby, either.

Rasberries!

These bushes are loaded this year!

The berries are just now forming, so I'm hoping we'll be able to start harvesting them in the next few weeks.

Finally, last but not least, my back flowerbed:

The poppies are the real stars right now.

In this picture they look orange, but in person they're a lovely peachy pink, with deep purple middles.

My mockorange is just starting to open up some blooms.

The penstemon is covered in colorful blossoms right now, and my 'Abraham Darby' English rose has just finished one round of blooming, with several more buds almost ready to open.

Hope you've enjoyed your tour today!

Thanks for visiting!

I'm linking up with Helen at The Patient Gardener.
Head over there to see some more beautiful flowers.
Then go outside and sniff your irises for awhile, if you've got 'em!
Iris season comes but once a year!