I am astounded by how much can grow here. In Alaska, we relied on berries, as fruit trees could only grow on the hills, where it was warmer than the valley we lived in, and even then I am not sure how much could grow. Nowadays, they have developed several apple types to grow better in the lowlands--wish they had had those when we first moved there! :)
So one of our plans if/when we got land was to put in many fruit trees. The past few days have been spent gathering fruit trees and bushes and plants from several different areas. We have gotten some from Lowes and Home Depot, as well as getting many from a local nursery. This nursery is ahhhmazing! First of all, it is like walking through a botanical garden with winding paths and a little model train and unique specimens. Secondly, they have coolers filled with cokes and water that you can partake of for free. There is something about coke in a glass bottle that just....ahh :)
It's a very smart move on their part too--the happier the kids are, as well as keeping folk hydrated in the hot summer sun, the more they will linger and buy. So it works out for everyone involved! The customers feel like they are going to a park and the business gets business.
Anyway, so last night's total was:
2 pears, 4 apples, 3 willows (two green, one gold), 5 peaches, 3 apricots, 2 nectarines, 2 cherries (these are sort of a wishful thing. I do not expect them to produce), 6 plums, 2 asian pears, 29 strawberries, 8 blueberries, 12 blackberries, 4 gardenias, 2 swamp cabbage, and 2 azaleas.
As soon as we can, we are going to start putting these in the ground. Our household goods are coming Thurs and Friday, so it might be this weekend or even next week.
Update: The orchard is in!!! My wonderful family had to take up all the slack because I had hurt my shoulder and could not do anything but fetch drinks and write tags. DD loved the hard manual labor. She is very smart, but that means her brain goes a million miles a minute and it is wearying for her. Hard digging, planting, hefting large bags of soil and mulch gave her focus to her mental energy and she found it refreshing and delightful. Hard labor makes for good rest, fresh air makes for a hearty appetite, and being outside, away from the computer and tv, makes for an active, but peaceful mind and spirit.Update: The orchard is in!!! My wonderful family had to take up all the slack because I had hurt my shoulder and could not do anything but fetch drinks and write tags. DD loved the hard manual labor. She is very smart, but that means her brain goes a million miles a minute and it is wearying for her. Hard digging, planting, hefting large bags of soil and mulch gave her focus to her mental energy and she found it refreshing and delightful. Hard labor makes for good rest, fresh air makes for a hearty appetite, and being outside, away from the computer and tv, makes for an active, but peaceful mind and spirit.
Only one tree, a cherry, seemed to get hit hard by frost (or something) and may or may not make it. There is a peach that needs some help for something on the leaf. The rest of the trees are doing fantastically, thank the Lord! There were a few times when we were supposed to have hail, and I was trying not to fret that my trees might be stripped of their leaves. However, the hail never hit, and the Lord was merciful to preserve the little orchard.
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