25 April 2026

The Last Saturday in April

 If only all the blossom on a fruit tree developed into fruit.

This is the Falstaff Minarette Apple,  ( a type for small gardens that grows straight up), this is it's 5th spring. There are more flowers this year than any previous and slightly later this year too which is hopeful. 




Earlier in the month the young pear tree was covered in white blossom but even if  a few of the blossom become fruit I expect wasps will ruin them like the two pears  they chomped their way through last year.

My annual try at getting Basil cuttings to root in water started this week. I took several cuttings from my 95p Aldi plant, hopefully some will produce roots. Not sure how they'll do because like last year the shoots are very lanky with few leaf nodes to turn into roots. Last year wasn't a huge success but I did have enough to use fresh leaves through the summer. 

In the garden I've 'done' the patio Yet Again with the wire scrapper thing that takes the top off all the weeds in the cracks. Then I poured boiling water over - hopefully that will set them back for a while. Also moved the last lot of compost onto one of the veg beds. I stopped making compost when rats ate their way in. I shall be pleased when the food waste council collection starts in June. There isn't much food waste but it'll be good to put the odd bits out for collection each week.

Having decided to resell the shelving unit I started searching around for other things ready to do a car boot sale in the summer. The grandchildren no longer need changing mat, toilet seat and potty and they've all hardly been used so just need a clean and they will sell plus some of the toys that they've all out grown. I found quite a few other things I'd like to see gone, so will definitely do a boot sale sometime. After every one I do I say Never Again but then 'stuff ' needs going and although I do donate to charity shops it's nice sometimes to get some money back. 
I shall keep my eye on the weather forecast for a sunny Sunday in May.

Hope you have a good weekend - I probably be back Monday - although at the moment my mind is a blank for what to write about.




22 comments:

  1. The blossom on our plum, pear and apple tree has been lovely and didn't get frosted so it appears to be setting fruit now. Some years ago we planted a quince tree which always seems to be ailing but this year it has burst into blossom so we are hopeful. Medlar not blossoming yet.
    It's surprising how much you can find to car boot/ sell/ donate when you really look around.
    Penny

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Quince blossom is gorgeous - like mini magnolia blossom. Hope you get lots of fruit this year

      Delete
  2. My problem last year, was that I had so many apricots, that I could not find recipients, this year I pruned back hard in hopes I have less. They are large beautiful and delicious,

    ReplyDelete
  3. Beautiful blossom and such a joy to see Spring finally flowering. Catriona

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Spring suddenly sprung over the course of just one week - lovely

      Delete
  4. Good luck with your car boot sale, when it comes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I never do very well as I usually end up giving stuff away cheap just so I don't have to take it home again.

      Delete
  5. You might check with your family about those old toys before you sell them. They might want to hang on to them for the grandchildren's children?!
    Maybe you could do a post about some of your favorite posts that you did in the past? Or your most popular posts?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I shall hang onto the very old toys that belonged to me or to the children but recent things that I found for grandchildren will go eventually

      Delete
  6. I need to clean the weeds out of our patio too. I'm always scared to do the boiling water thing for fear of scalding the bugs and earthworms! But I do dig the weeds up or cut off their heads.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hopefully the boiling water only kills the weeds!

      Delete
  7. I have gone right off the idea of doing car boot sales these days, but now I am also losing patience with Facebook Marketplace ... people ask the daftest questions. So all but the biggest items just get taken to the charity shop. I hope that yours goes well when you get around to doing it. Will you get someone to help you, so that you can go around and have a browse yourself too?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I'm not overjoyed at the thought of doing a bootsale but I don't do facebook etc so it's the best way of getting a few £s back.

      Delete
  8. Save your soapy dishwater for those patio weeds!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Not much soapy water here as I have a dishwasher!

      Delete
  9. I love to see all the blossom coming out. It's so cheerful. Not much of it on our apple trees so far this year but we had such a massive crop on both of them last year that they might need a bit of a rest rest this time.
    Good luck with the weather for a boot sale soon!
    Angie

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. My other two minarette trees are very short of blossom, so may be relying on the Falstaff

      Delete
  10. You're right - it is the last Saturday in April! Man, where did it all go?
    Pretty blossoms and I bet they have a lovely fragrance.

    ReplyDelete
  11. My two pear trees are in blossom too. Last year they produced lots of fruit, but the wildlife got the majority of it.
    My magnolia tree started to bloom, and we had a very cold night. The blooms are hanging on but do not look spectacular.
    I would think having good quality things at a car boot sale would sell quickly. The demand for children's gear/toys is a constant.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's just wasps that get the fruit here ruining figs and pears last year

      Delete