Wednesday 7 May 2014

Tree Watching 3 - Crab Apple on a May Evening, After Rain


A Tree Following Post - Part of the Tree Following Project on Lucy Coriander`s Loose and Leafy Blogspot.



The John Dorey Crab Apple is in blossom now.
On Friday evening, the rain stopped and mist began to rise from the fields. A  grey-clouded sunset sank to soft pink behind the distant trees.









A single blossom against the bark.







Oaks are just breaking bud and beeches have soft, new, lime green leaves this week, but the crab apple`s leaves have been here for several weeks and are darkening now.




Below is a flashback to May 2013, just a year ago, when the crab apple blossomed more than ever before. The tree seemed covered in a froth of snow. 

This year, there are fewer blossoms and there will be fewer autumn fruits. After 2013, this spring seems    to be one where the tree can recover after so much blossom and so much fruit last year.








11 comments:

angryparsnip said...

So very beautiful. Maybe trees need to take a year off to recuperate.

cheers, parsnip

ChrisJ said...

The one and only time we ever had a fruit tree we were told that there is only a good crop of fruit every other year. Makes sense.

Em Parkinson said...

Such beautiful trees. I think one might even grow up here.....I should try.

Crafty Green Poet said...

what a lovely tree...

Down by the sea said...

I love the evening light and your tree is lovely lovely despite the lack of blossom. Sarah x

Caroline Gill said...

Yes, a beautiful tree ... and as for blossom, well, there's always the chance of more next year!

Anonymous said...

So interesting to see how the crab apple is doing. Our apple tree had masses of blossom last year too and has less this. I think weather conditions the previous summer and autumn have a bearing on fruiting :-)

Jenny said...

What a difference! We're having a bumper blossom year on the old cooking apple trees, but the strong wind today is taking it's toll! It's snowing petals!

Bovey Belle said...

We have a wild crab apple in the paddock copse, but I intend to plant a couple like yours when we move (I am still planning my orchard).

Fruit trees do tend to rest after a heavy-cropping year. Our grown-from-seed trees are LADEN with blossom this year but the cooker and early eater both have less.

SeagullSuzie said...

Love the mistiness of the first photo. The 2013 blossom is beautiful. Everything needs a rest and the one thing I love about gardening is how everything is different year to year.

Lucy Corrander Now in Halifax! said...

A very tranquil atmosphere in the photos.