Fall in the Orchard and Small Garden

 Good Morning to all!

Fall is here in the Puget Sound Region.

  The Cows are enjoying the morning mist fog here.  You might enjoy a previous post about them.  Pastoral Life at Its Best in a Small Garden!

APPLE PICKING

We checked the apples this am again to see
if more were ready.

GRAPE PICKING

The last of the grapes need picking before the critter that has been enjoying them as well eats the last of them. We finally added the netting but he/she still found away around it. 

 

Blueberries and Roses 

     The Blueberries and Roses are still giving a wonderful display and tasty food.

IN THE DARK

Our grandson keeps wanting to play outside in the dark.

We have street lights that help.  All of the other children are inside.  He just needs to be outside though. As I walk around him letting him play, he just cannot let go of summer.  

He wants the sunshine and the fun with friends playing outside.  A neighbor got out of her car and as she walked to her door I said - He just can't let summer go.  She said - All of us wish it would linger longer.  Fortunately he has Halloween to look forward to!

Climate change or just a natural cycle, Western Washington State

did not get the long warm  lingering fall.  Rain and cool weather arrived early. 

Going to enjoy the fall day anyway! Judy



Pastoral Life at Its Best in a Small Garden!

The "Pastoral Life" has been something that through the ages people have romanticized. There has been music, paintings and plays about the life.  When we created our Small Garden we did not expect to find it.  Yet, it is in our small garden.

I want to share it with you -

First the Pastoral Life was dreamed of while sitting in an atmosphere of gardens.  This is my grape vine on a trellis.  Here is a close up of the grapes almost ready for picking.

Next here are apples almost ready for the eating.

Now I want to share with you a peak through the Cherry Trees in the midst of the fall morning.

Now notice as the fogs lifts and you will see what was considered the pinnacle of the Pastoral Life.

It is cattle or cows in a field though the seasons.  We do feel fortunate to enjoy scenes like this from our "Small Garden".  I like to think I have an Urban Farm as I shared.  The cows are there for our pleasure without the work.   

Enjoy our Pastoral Life!  Judy

 

Close Up of the Fruit - Cherries, Apples, Pear, Blue Berries and Grapes in the Container Potted Orchard

Cherries

Apples



Pear







Blue Berries

 The fruit is growing every day.





















Grapes are Growing as well!

It is fun watching a Container Potted Orchard Grow!  Judy

2nd Year (2010) Potted Fruit Tree Orchard in Contain Gardening

Finally you will find the YouTube Video of the 2nd year of the container garden potted fruit tree orchard. See it on the left column under YouTube Videos.

Enjoy! Judy

A Patio Orchard in Pots and Containers - Planting

Beginning the Orchard

I promised last week I would cover how we planted our "Orchard" in pots and containers. Here goes just a quick peak through a series of pictures. It will take you some time to down load them.

First the trees were soaked in a root stimulator solution. Now I should warn you we are not a "totally organic" garden. I have read the pros and cons. In a small patio garden we decided we had to split the difference and become a combo.
There are both organic and regular root stimulus solutions to use....I will let you pick for yourself.

Next we put pea gravel in the pot. I should say these pots came from Costco. Yes we buy so much there we bought some stock in the company. This is just a disclosure. [smile] I think it is 3 shares. The pots have a well in them to contain water, which will help retain water longer during the summer. Some pots we took the plugs out others we left them. We had a difference of opionion in the family. He wanted them out and I wanted them in.. We will see this summer who was right. [smile].

Then we filled the pots with a composting soil combo specifically designed for trees. We purchased these at Home Depot. (We do not own stock [smile]) Be sure to make it into a hill. It is hard to see in the picture. So I did not show you a picture on that step. This way the roots set right over the top and around the hill. This way the roots will grow evenly throughout the pot.

Next the roots of the tree might need trimmed. Just the tips to stimulate growth. Any roots that are broken also need trimmed. You do not have to trim all of the roots.

We had one person hold the tree (that was me) and the other person (that was him) put the tree in and started filling the "dirt" around it. We used a potting soil.

Lots of packing and pushing happens at this stage. You do not want soil air pockets.












We filled them almost to the top of the pot.

Here are some of the finished trees in the pots.

He is shaping dirt into a hill for another tree to go in.











We have planted 7 apple trees in pots/containers, 2 pear trees and 2 cherry trees, 1 grape in whisky barrels, and 3 rose trees in pots/containers. They are all varieties that will grow in pots/containers.

Enjoy! Judy