Harvest Photos December 2014

These photos were taken on the 6th of December, Sweet Georgia, our last variety to harvest. Glad to say that it was a successful cherry harvest. Weather was hot and dry and a challenge. Almost all varieties harvested well, Empress, Merchant, Santina, Lapin and Sweet Georgia were clearly standouts in this season. Our highway stall at Cherry Dale moved all cherries, where sales have risen to a new level. Stone fruit from new trees has been exceptional and return sales have been strong.

 

 Last hours of the cherry harvest, rare moments in a man's life to hold such cherries.

(Below from left)   Pairin, Big Pete, our sons Tom and Mark and Merv, hurrying to get the last cherries off before rain.

 Lydia and Lillian packing boxes for sale.

 Mark on the ladder, look at his appropriate footwear.

Felt good to harvest such good cherries at the end of this season.

 

Some beautiful Diamond Pearl nectarines, a white flesh Bradford variety.

 My sons Tom and Mark, it was good to have Tom home to help with the harvest and Mark as always.

 My good wife Jenny a good fruitier and flower arranger.

 Tom with a good display of the fruit for sale.

Joy and Jenny, Girls just wanna have fun.

 Joy in the new nursery

 Coming up the garden path.

 New garden bed around nursery below

Preparing our propagated plants to place in the nursery for sale 

 Mark is more of an asset every year.

Our neighbours pigs who enjoy all our waste fruit.

 

42 days on my feet today in the harvest, with stonefruit to pick until Christmas. 

Wouldn't have it any other way.

Best wishes to all.

Spring Blossom - Patience is a Virtue

I took these photos this morning, mainly of cherry blossom.The spring has been kind to this date and trees have been flowering strong.

 Four year old Black Star, best flowering I have seen on these so far.

Santina lateral at bud burst.

 

 Empress at shuck fall.

Some apricot fruit set below

 

Nursery at completed stage, waiting for plants.

What a beautiful weeping cherry

 

What each season brings, who can honestly tell until it is done, but at this stage it is unfolding nicely.

Best wishes to all.

Apricot Blossom August 2014

New moon today August 25, have had 35mm of rain in the last 2weeks with some more forecast tomorrow.  (25mm=1") Here are some photos that I took this morning of some apricot blossom, the first sunny morning for a good week.

 Overall view of some apricot rows below.
Varieties such as Solar Glow, Solar Fire, Solar Nugget, Solar Sweet, Solar Flair, Golden May and Priana are in bloom at present, with most other apricot varieties at bud burst.

Rose Bright nectarine below

Diamond Pearl nectarine at bud burst below.

2 photos below taken last month, starting to get Mark more involved in the pruning.

Weather has remained nice and cold since last entry, good to see some rain in the last 2 weeks.
Spring is unfolding on us now, anticipation levels are high.
Best Wishes to all.