Successes and Failures this Spring in the Back40

Several apple trees in the Back40 are putting on fruit.

The pear trees are also coming along nicely.

The frost claimed two young persimmon trees. Hopefully they'll recover.

The grapevines show some damage but over all came through the frost OK.

The wild plums have a scattering of fruit on this year.

I did battle with the tent caterpillars this spring. A dose of Sevin won the day.

My Back40 grafts continue to flourish.  A Liberty apple noted for it's disease resistence.

 A Hudson's Golden Gem. A fine fresh eating fall apple.

 A Summer Rambo. As the name suggests a summer apple for eating or cooking.

So over all it's been a fairly nice spring in the Back40.

The Grafting Bug

This apple tree grafting could get out of control.

Every morning I can't wait to check my grafts to see if any new buds are opening.  I'm already trying to decide how many rootstocks I should purchase next spring and am pouring over nursery websites that sell scionwood, looking at descriptions of apples with names like  Black Amish, Guyandotte Pippin, and Hog Sweet. Yes I can see this grafting thing spiraling out of control.

My daylily plantings are growing nicely on the breast of the vernal pond.

The mystery nest in my last posting has been solved.

As I went to open the box this is what flew out. I'll leave her alone till she hatches her eggs and then maybe try for a pic of the youngsters.

Signs of Spring around the Homestead

The bees are busy.

The apple trees are in bloom.

The vernal pond is full of water and teeming with tadpoles.

An interesting nest has appeared in one of my bird boxes. A Chickadee or perhaps a Nuthatch??

My grafting skills seem to have improved. In future years I'll be enjoying old-fashioned apples with names like Pomme Gris, Red Limbertwig, and Newt Grindle to name a few. Let the average person eat their store bought Red Delicious & Yellow Delicious, I'll be savoring these old apples from the past.

Life is good here on the homestead.