Cold and dry May

 

Another pruning session at Turlough House with Andrew

We had another session with Andrew Watson, pruning the vine at Turlough House. Cut tendril tips, and the vine two to three leaves past the fruiting buds. Pull out the growth showing at the base of leaves, and remove any non-fruiting sections you don't want to keep for next year. We spent about 1.5 hours at it. Will soon have to start in the vineyard. 

I am having difficulty manoeuvring in the steep area of the garden, so Craig and Catherine Anne have helped us transform that section with a new path. It curves through the middle section and lets us access just about everything for weeding and just plain enjoying. Ghostie loves playing there. 

New garden path going in

Next, ground cover and gravel

Ghost is a big help

It's been a cold and dry month of May so far. We've only had 12.8 mm of rain and the mean temperature for the first 12 days is 10.8 °C -- compared with 99.2mm and 12.0 °C LTA for the month. I do not think we are going to get there. Yet, the stuff outside is doing well. The wisteria is blooming, the veg are growing, and the orchard cherries are doing well, finally. We've had the most spectacular display of lilacs ever. But I think we killed the raspberries with donkey poo. The donkeys are continuing to get more and more friendly and they love their stable. I think they come back to sleep there every night. 

Wisteria

Lilac

On the other hand, the polytunnel has been conducive to lush growth. The peas are 8 feet tall, the Rockit tree has tiny apples, and the grapes are forming tiny grapelets. Alex transplanted the strawberries, and they are thriving in their new raised box beds from Vevor. One grapevine cutting that hasn't even produced leaves yet is fruiting. Weird. I harvested a lemon and am going to have lots more lemons and oranges this year, but no peaches or nectarines. The latter have not flowered this year. Bummer. 

Just after I recovered, though not completely, from carpal tunnel surgery, Alex was scheduled for removal of a basal cell on his nose. I still have loss of sensation in 3.5 fingers and my palm and he can't lift anything for a week. So garden work must wait. Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow.

Westport Quay

Grapes forming 

Grapes coming along

Apples

Fruit at the base of a stick

Donkeys gettng treats

Bruce, my love!

Alex with nose taped up after surgery