Notching to Encourage Branch Growth. 4.25.2021

 Akane is an excellent apple with a good "Jonathan" flavor, bears well, every year.  Unfortunately, I had let my Akane apple tree grow taller than I wanted.  I could have cut back the top, allowing new, lower branches to grow.  That would have meant no crop this year.

So I cut notches at points below buds where I want new branches to grow.  In a year or two, I can cut the bigger branches as the new lower branches fill in.

Now I'm thinking I should notch above those additional buds, for more branching.  

I never did this before.  Looks like it works just fine.

Sad Looking Tomatoes from Wall 'o' Water. 4.24.2021

 Well, that was a mistake. The water filled teepees to keep the tomatoes warm appear to have worked too well and cooked those plants.  &^%$#!!

A couple don't look too bad but that Lemon Boy looks fried. Oh well.  I have backup plants of several varieties.  Those can go into the ground in a week or two.

Drip Irrigation System. 4.24.2021

 I don't know what I'm doing, but that hasn't stopped me before.  Here is part of the drip irrigation system I've been installing.  So far, I have it in the raised beds and a couple of containers.  It seems to take about 6 hours to provide an inch of water, which I expect to need every few days during the summer.  I can turn it on in the late evening, and return in the early morning to turn it off.

This took a few days, not too bad.  Next is the tomato bed, then the mini fruit trees and finally, the sweet corn bed.

More Apple Blossoms. 4.24.2021

 I went around and photographed more of the apple blossoms.  Almost all of the apples, whether early, mid season, or late season, are blooming now.

 

And Redlove Era

Lilacs. 4.24.2021

 It's been raining, so some of the lilacs are droopy.  Some are very nice.  Most of these are about 20 years old.  We bought tiny lilacs at the Canby plant fair in the early 2000s, and move them to the country house about 8 years ago.  A couple of them are starts that I took from existing lilac bushes.  Those may have a more extensive history, but I don't know it.  I also planted a few more starts this Spring.