May is for - darling buds

I'm writing this late due to having a well-deserved holiday at the end of May, and that makes it all the stranger. We're 3 weeks into Winter, and we're yet to have a frost. Traditionally our first frost here is around ANZAC day, and yet here we are at the Winter Solstice, and I haven't even had to use my woollen driving gloves on the way to work yet. Tonight is the longest night of the year, and from here the days will grow longer again. I'm not complaining personally, I hate to be cold and I wouldn't mind if we never get below 2 degrees again. But what seems like a small convenience to me makes a huge difference in the garden.

My apple finally finished flowering (strange enough), but both are still tightly holding their deep green leaves. I can't wait for them to be bare so I can give them a prune and tidy-up. The apricot at least has the good grace to turn a few leaves yellow to convince me that it's not still March.

The tomatoes and chillies are still flowering... and even ripening.

 

Out along the highway, the wattles have begun their end of winter celebration. The 'darling buds of May' that usually refer to a Northern Hemisphere Spring? Perhaps...

I do find it slightly concerning, and I know many fruit trees will not flower properly without enduring enough 'chill hours' to convince them winter has come and gone. When the flowering is erratic, there aren't enough flowers open at once to adequately pollinate each other, and fruit set is low.

My fingers are crossed that the worst impact will be higher fruit prices next season.

Photo of the week - fungi files

Hi all, after a great trip up the coast, I just had to share all the gorgeous fungi I came across. So much diversity in size, colour and shape!

And these two are technically lichens, but since that's half right I hope you'll forgive me!