Out and About Cherry Dale: Winter Solstice

As we move past the winter solstice I reflect on what has been. The drought has finished in our district, our dam is full, the creek has good flow again and there is a good soil moisture profile. The drought has left its scars and bruises with 2019 being the worst of it. Some areas of orchard, older trees have been lost and recently removed but, all young trees are alive and looking good.

The last harvest went well for us and while volume of cherries was down they were of good quality.

Losses were minimal from the first cherry variety to the last peaches picked and demand for the product in the Highway stall was strong, the best we have experienced.

Here are some photos showing parts of the season.

Royal Tioga photo taken 25 October 2020

Planted July 2017

First pick of these, customers loved them.

First cherries picked for the season

Mark and I Empress

Photo above and below show Royal Hazel

We picked Empress first with Royal Tioga and then into Royal Lynn and then Royal Hazel.

These were picked before Merchant maturity.

Sunday morning Merchant cherries in older trees.

These old trees were chainsawed hard last winter after the drought. Made good new wood through the season.

Photo above and below show Royal Dawn

We picked Rosy Rainier, Bellise and then Santina in this time slot after Merchant maturity.

Photos below show our son Mark with Lapin cherries and Simone above him.

These are young trees with their first good crop.

Photo below shows Sweet Georgia our last variety to harvest.

Two young journalists from the ABC Tamworth came on this day and did a story about Cherry Dale recovering from the drought. It was aired on the Seven Thirty Report. A once in a lifetime event.