Apples, Apples, Everywhere

Last year at this time the apple growers of Ontario were wringing their hands as the crop looked very sparse. The spring weather combined with a lack of bees caused the the industry to look forward to. a reduction of about 80 per cent. In my case the Northern Spy tree flowered and we harvested not a single apple.

Our Spartan had a beautiful blooming but only eight apples were harvested. This year is so different with Mother Nature spreading out her wings over the fruit trees and we can look forward to a abundant crop in all areas

There is great concern shown by all people in the agriculture field about the health of our bee industry. There are kills of whole colonies and it is the belief that the coating on the modified seeds of the corn creates a problem for the bees resulting in death of many bees.

Bees being more scarce has caused another problem if you can believe it. Bee keepers are experiencing the theft of some of their colonies and one beekeeper near us lost a colony of 32,000 bees just a week or so ago.

Apple prices spiked last year to record heights of over $2 per pound and higher in some areas. This caused our retail people to depend on imported apples and I have seen apples on the shelf from the USA, South Africa, New Zealand and many other countries. Lets hope that the predictions for this year are correct so we can keep that old saying going...an apple a day keeps the doctor away.

Morning Glories

When I first planted a few morning glories in my yard I expected to get a good colourful showing. Actually I wished to have them grow on a trellis I made separating the patio from the back yard. I was surprised with the result. They not only grew but spread to all areas of our yard.

One of the best showings is on the fence separating our properties where the chain link fence is now a glorious morning glory garden. We used to collect the seeds for replanting but we soon realized that they reseed themselves.

As the years went on the plants became much larger and the leaves are twice the size that they used to be. We found out that they ca quickly become  a weed because of the rapid growth they exhibit. We now find them squeezing out even the dahlias. Some have climbed our apple tree and have mixed in with the climbing beans to compete for room on the bean forms I construct every year.

I love them with their rich colours and aggressive growing habits and will put up with the negative to have a colourful showing on our gateway to the garden area of our home.

Mom's Flox

I left home at a young age to make my way through life but I never turned my back on my past years in Cape Breton. One of my fondest memories was learning to love gardening through helping Mom look after her flowers and small kitchen garden. Our soil was poor as it was contaminated by mining debris and pit stone. Through years of building up the soil Mom and Dad developed a great potato patch and a vegetable garden.

Mom was most proud of her flowers, and the one in particular was her flox. Mom got her first flox from a woman who sold them from her home in Bras D'or. This lady had a spectacular showy flower garden. Mom planted her flox around our yard and they were multi-coloured. In the early sixties I had a home visit and before leaving Mom gave me a few roots from her flox.

With instructions as to how to make them flourish I packed them in the car. I was living in Pembroke at the time and with good soil the flowers made a great showing immediately. One year they were hit by rust and I phoned home and Mom gave me the answer as to how to get rid of it: move the plants every couple of years. It seemed to work.

When I moved the flowers moved with me and now I have one small clump in the back yard. This year they are beautiful with a nice colouring. My flox change colour  every so often but always return to the pink eventually. I trust that I shall be able to keep these flowers alive and well and able to pass them on to one of my family. Flowers are a beautiful reminder of someone as dear to you as your Mom. Our lipstick vine is really putting on a show this year as well.

Cherry Picking Time

This year we are blessed with a terrific crop of cherries. We have two trees, one has the yellow cherries which are so good. Sweet, large and grow in clusters so are easy to pick. Our other tree has been grafted and has five different varieties of cherries.

This tree is eight years old and is higher than the house. I pick what we can reach with a twelve foot ladder and can reach while standing on our roof. Two days ago be picked 30 pounds and today about 15 pounds. We wash, take off the stems, and take out the stones. It is tedious work but well worth the effort.

We freeze the whole stoned cherries for pies and make jam with most of the rest. Sometimes we make cherry jelly which becomes basically cherry coloured sugar so be avoid making too much.

We tell all of our neighbours to come and pick as there are plenty for all. Mother nature sends her black birds for a feast and our local chip monks and squirrels have a feast. Unwelcome visitors are the raccoons as they break the tree branches. All in all we are very happy to share our abundance with all who wish to come and share.

Roses and Strawberries

This is a wonderful time of the year. Strawberries are at their best and the roses are coming into their own.We started off with two dozen  strawberries plants and after giving many away and culling out the older ones, half of our garden space is now strawberries.

Yesterday we pickled about 20 pounds or five large metal bowls. Our yield would have been much larger wee it not for the chip monks and squirrels. The black birds have not discovered the patch of berries or we would have been out of business. Our season lasts about two weeks of real good picking and then nature takes over and cleans up the leftovers.

We have climbing roses and some beautiful pink roses that seem to do best in the early spring and the late fall. Our red climbing roses are supposed to flower all season but do best in early June and late fall. During the hot summer the roses take a break and come to life again in September.

This spring started off with bad, cold days but plenty of rain. Nature rejoiced and the field crops flourished and everything was green. Now with the onset of hot days the corn will grow and the farmers can breathe a sigh of relief.

Our spring gives us the opportunity to have a visual feast of all the blooming flowers and a great taste to satisfy the hungry people who love strawberries.

Missing My Garden

When we come to Florida we rush to get the garden planted so we can reap the benefits of fresh vegetables. This year we planted the garden around the last week of October and everything grew very well because of the perfect weather. Cool nights with hot days is a good combination for growth.

We were going to settle for a pot garden but as usual I couldn't see a empty space in the back yard.We planted three kinds of tomatoes, cantaloupe, carrots, two kinds of beans, two kinds of lettuce, Swiss chard and beets. Everything will do well while we are away but the beans will be ready next week and we are eating the lettuce.

Because we have a watering system  the garden should survive the drought like conditions during December, January and February. In spite of that I will worry the whole time I am home.

Privacy Trees and Golf

A very few years ago Theresa and I planted some small {1 gallon} trees in the hope they would grow and give us some privacy. Well they did grow and grow and now I am faced with a big task every six months to keep them under control. They do their job very well and along with the sea grapes make a nice separation between our home and the road. Already we have put out 8 barrels of cuttings and several piles of branches.

In our back yard we have the same situation where the White Bird of Paradise grows so quickly that on our return we have a massive cutting. The city picks up this garden waste every week and turns it into mulch used for the landscaping in the city.

I like the work involved but feel guilty cutting away beautiful branches and sometimes flowers. It could be very easy to find yourself overgrown if this task is not completed every six months at least. Our gang played golf yesterday and I was amazed at the improvement in the look of the course after their fall cleanup. Palms had their dead branches cut, all the grassy sections were trimmed preparing for a tournament and the greens were perfect. People at the golf course were doing what Theresa and I were doing but on a much larger scale.

November, the Perfect Month in Florida

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN NOVEMBER 3, 2012

For all the times I have been coming to Florida I always feel that November is the perfect month. The days are hot and we have many evenings and nights that you are able to open the windows and have a good sleep. This year so far is no exception. We have 80 degree days and 60 degrees nights, perfect.

The seeds I planted two weeks ago are now plants. The beans and tomatoes are doing well and the other vegetables are fine. It feels like our spring in Ontario and I am able to experience that feeling of procreation all over again.

Most people here in Florida close their pools and go into that winter mode but Theresa and I swim every day during the winter because the water is warm but the air is cool. We have a big towel ready when we come out and that is it. Some days people around us think we are rather unusual but we don't mind.

Tomorrow we are going to lay golf again and the course will be almost free of people because of the cool weather. From now to February the courses are trying to get customers and are waiting for the snowbirds who make the economy really get into action. Everywhere we go around the city we hear about the snowbirds. Some people complain because we drive too slowly but remember we are older.

The locals realize that we put millions of dollars into their economy so they put up with us. Actually the locals are friendly and try to understand us and in many times feel we add much to their economy.

Theresa and I love to explore the area we live in and are amazed at the diversity of the area and what it offers to people from the north. When we have friends visiting this area we are pleased to help them experience the beauty of the south.

Planting Nearly Completed

Last year we decided to cut down on our Florida garden. As we were in a shortened time here ,pot gardens seemed to be a nice compromise. This year we will have 8 large pots planted and the small plot set aside for tomatoes, carrots, cucumbers and squash.

I always keep the ground covered so there are no weeds. One year I learned my lesson when I left the garden plot uncovered and after six months we had weeds ten feet tall. This year I attended the Home Depot green house and was shocked at the huge increase in prices for potted plants.

I immediately decided to grow everything from seeds. Single four inch pots with one tomato costs $3.69. Ridiculous, and I let them know. Larger pots cost more and the tomatoes in a large pot ready for your patio were priced at $14.50 each.

Growing from seeds is more fun anyway. The prices on every item was up at least 40 percent. I shopped around and all the box stores were the same. I have some new trees growing in my garden as I planted some nuts but I forgot what they were. In any case they are off to a good start. I shall transplant them in the next week when we expect rain.

Our bananas are ready to spring forth with fruit and this year I expect our Star Fruit tree to blossom. It is three years old and very healthy. After you plant something here you can expect to have the task of trimming every year after.

I am trying to get one new flower for the  pool deck this year to bring some colour to the place. We hope to have our place in order by this weekend.

Fall Cleanup

This week I have been trying to get my fall work completed as we only have five more days  before departing to the south. I really have a problem with growing old as it takes me so much longer to do half as much I just marvel at what I did when I was 65.

The rhubarb had to be helped this year as it was a dry one so more cow manure and littler TLC to bring us a good crop next year.All of our fruit trees needed pruning and I do French pruning which means prune when they need it. Our pear tree is such a fast grower that I prune almost a third every year. The rest are pruned basically to make a path through to the back yard.

Our English Ivy has taken a hold and talk about stubborn to clean up. The Boston Ivy is beautiful in the fall with it's brilliant red colour but it too may be problems if not controlled. Now the bad part when you have to cut the flowers off and put them in the compost. This year the flowers were stressed during the summer heat but really rebounded with the fall cool temperatures.

All during my cleanup I have a pet Chipmunk who follows me around and makes a racket every time I cut a flower. He knows  it is fall and soon winter. We make sure he has a good store of peanuts  for the winter. I keep all of our hanging baskets and geraniums in our garage and they last for years.

This fall I am specially careful with my winter prep as I will pay the price next spring if I do not. I hope I will not get in trouble for working on Sunday as we as kids were never permitted to do much on Sunday except go to church.

Pear Marmalade

Pear marmalade is a favourite spread that we make  about this time every year. Actually this is early for our pear tree to be dropping its fruit and I guess it is because of the extremely dry weather.

This fruit spread is great for the breakfast on toast or just as a sweet desert. Our pears are smaller this year but the squirrels do not mind as every one I see has a pear in its mouth or is sitting on the fence eating them as only squirrels can.

We have plenty so we could care less. Our pears ripen quickly after picking so we try to use them in a proper manner. Personally I prefer pears after peaches as my favourite fruit. Our tree has grown so quickly that constant pruning is necessary to keep it in order.

This year we plan to make a dozen bottles of marmalade and we will spruce up the recipe a little for a change.