This has been the most glorious week of spring weather I can remember, either here in Virginia or in New York. Perfect. It’s as if Mother Nature is saying gently, “I’m so sorry for all that snow and ice. Here; spring.” Like a gift. Each day, brilliant gem-like blue skies with wispy white clouds. A waning full moon still visible at dawn, while the sun spreads crimson and gold across the horizon. Temperatures at night in the thirties, but soaring to the seventies and eighties by day. The peach trees in our orchard are blooming with abandon. The mature tree we purchased from Lowe’s is blooming gloriously as pictured, but the smaller siblings are putting their effort into only a handful of blossoms. The crab apple trees are about to bloom. The apple trees in the orchard have leaves, but no blooms. The plums, on the other hand, look like they’re trying to outdo the peaches and will soon shower fragrant white blossoms on us. All of our trees in the fruit orchard, with the exception of one cherry tree, survived the harsh winter. We’re heading out tomorrow to get a replacement cherry tree. Hopefully another mature tree, like the peach we replaced, will struggle less and produce faster. And yes, the entire orchard is managed through organic gardening methods. While we do spray, we use only organic sprays, compost and mulch.
It’s Good Friday. I have no reflection to offer. Last night’s Holy Thursday celebration overwhelmed me with its grace, beauty, and spiritual meaning. I have been to many Holy Thursday Masses, and last night’s Mass at our simple little church was one of the most moving I have participated in. Thank you God for our little church family and our spiritual leaders.
We are heading out today to scope out materials to finish off the perennial garden. John is bound and determined to get the cement work done this April. I think he’s being optimistic, but who am I to argue? Whatever we can get finished before the hot weather begins, the better.
Today’s pictures…yes, that’s Seven Oaks and yes, that’s our best peach tree. My mouth is watering in the hope and anticipation of peaches, but who knows what the season brings…
Jeanne Grunert is a certified Virginia Master Gardener and the author of several gardening books. Her garden articles, photographs, and interviews have been featured in The Herb Companion, Virginia Gardener, and Cultivate, the magazine of the National Farm Bureau. She is the founder of The Christian Herbalists group and a popular local lecturer on culinary herbs and herbs for health, raised bed gardening, and horticulture therapy.
