After a long spell of unseasonably warm weather, Nature pulled one of its meanest tricks on us last week. On Wednesday night and Thursday morning, the temperature dropped into the 20's and we had a hard frost. I went out on Wednesday afternoon and covered what I could, but most things are too big to cover. I brought all the potted plants in and set an electric heater on the back porch. Everything was budded or blooming. I prayed hard that night that we would be spared. I went out Thursday after school to inspect the gardens and orchard fearing what I would find. We were blessed. The dolgo crab apple that was in full bloom was damaged, but not totally lost. The grapes took a hard hit but will recover. The apple trees seem to have suffered no damage. In the flower garden the only things that were lost were the morning glory vines. I will have to start over with them. After that frost, the warm weather returned along with some rain and things look good. I’m hoping and praying that we are done with frost now.
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| Preparing for frost on Wednesday afternoon. |
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| Frost on Thursday morning. |
The yellow transparent apple tree, one of the big old trees in my orchard, is more beautiful than I have ever seen it. It is covered with blossoms and all day long it is buzzing with hundreds of bumblebees. I think we will be making a lot of applesauce in August.
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| The yellow transparent apple tree. |
This is truly one of the most beautiful times of year here. The trees have leafed out now and their leaves are still that fresh first green. The fruit trees and ornamentals are in full bloom. As we drive the roads I’m amazed at how many wild apple trees there are – descendants of the old orchards that once graced the now vanished farms here. They line the roads in places and the edges of the forest are thick with them. The lilacs are blooming and the mock orange bushes have buds.
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| The crab apple tree in the front yard. |
The lawns are lush now. I’m not a purist when it comes to lawns. I think large lawns are a waste of good ground. I’ve managed to convert a lot of my lawn to garden and meadow. What lawn I do have is not neatly manicured. I let things grow there that lawn purists would shudder to see. I have dandelions galore and swaths of violets and dead nettle. I think there is more clover than grass in most of my lawn and I like it that way.
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| Dead nettle blooming in the lawn. |
In the woodland garden the lily-of-valley have begun to bloom. I love their simple fragrant flowers. When I walk down the stone path through the woodland garden I always sing a song I learned when I was a child, “White coral bells upon a slender stalk, lilies-of-the-valley decks my garden walk . . .”
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| Lily-of-the-valley. |
Hannah finished school last week. Her last final exam was on Thursday. She’s relieved that it’s all over and she is free for a while. She has a list of books she’s been waiting to read.
It is warm and humid today. I love the soft humid air. On days like this the smells of the earth are sweet and strong. The moist air makes the scent of apple blossom, yellow currant, and cut grass more intense. After church today we had lunch with one of senior missionary couples, the Millers. They prepared a wonderful meal for us.
Today is Stacey’s birthday. She’s had several packages come in the mail from family all over the country over the last few days. The children have been or will be (hint) telephoning and Skyping to wish her a happy birthday. This evening the Shilligs are coming over here for a little celebration.
The week ahead looks like it will be busy. I have a list of things to do after school each day. The weather looks good and I can hardly wait to get things done. This is a wonderful time of year.
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| View across the orchard. |
