A country divided

 

It's much cooler here today. Yesterday, it was sweltering all day. Today it's sweltering only in the south. There was a 14°c difference between North and South midday, from 10°c in Sligo to 24°c in Cork. I actually had to wear a jumper and a padded vest when closing the doors to the polytunnel this evening, whereas yesterday I was in shorts and a T-shirt all day and well into the evening. What do such swings do to the vines? Are they confused?

The vines are growing profusely. All but two of the new Rondo vines have sprouted, and one even has an inflorescence. Go figure. I am hopeful for a good harvest this year. I am looking forward to applying serious science to the craft this year. No distractions. 

Chilean iris in magnificent bloom.

Libertia chilensis, synonym Libertia formosa, called the New Zealand satin flower, snowy mermaid, or Chilean-iris, is a species of flowering plant in the iris family, Iridaceae, native to the Juan Fernández Islands, central and southern Chile, and southern Argentina. It can also be found growing wild in the San Francisco Bay Area and San Bernardino County in California, where it is an introduced species. A rhizomatous evergreen perennial, it has gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit. The Calle-Calle River in Los Ríos Region owes its name to the Mapuche word for the plant.

We may have some pears this year. 

Possibly a few cherries, but a big section of the tree is dead.

Vineyard looking good.

Pinot Noir looks happy. 

Alex is moving the fence to plant a hedgerow of blackthorn 

Prunus spinosa, called blackthorn or sloe, is an Old World species of flowering plant in the rose family, Rosaceae. The fruits are used to make sloe gin in Britain and patxaran in Basque Country. The wood is used to make walking sticks, including the Irish shillelagh. Looking forward to another crop. 

Eating apples on the way.