Frost

We had a very sharp frost one evening last week.  It has singed the grape vine, decimated the cherries on the morello cherry tree (but not, mostly, on the sweet cherry trees) and even singed the kiwi vine in the greenhouse - and we knew there was a frost coming and had closed the door!  The strawberries also got a bit singed.  The enthusiasts on the allotments, who had put some of their summer veg plants out have suffered for their prematurity :-S

Let this be a lesson to us all.  May, no matter how beguiling, no matter how summery, is still only spring and it is TOO EARLY to plant things out.  Not that I have done - but it was tempting!!

We have finally had some nice rain.  But my stressed apple tree is still stressed.  I don't know what's wrong with it, only that its leaves have gone all limp and sad.  It'll have to take its chances.  If it doesn't recover, a new one will replace it next spring!!

We have now reached the 1000 milestone of eggs laid since we got the chickens.  Not bad considering they've only been with us for 11 months