Apples From Blossom

I took these photos about 4 weeks ago when the young apple trees in the garden were covered with blossom and I thought how wonderful it would be if all the blossom turned into apples.

 

Somewhere in one of my books is an old saying about not  being able to count the apple crop very soon in the year but I've searched and can't find it.............It's a bit like chickens, eggs and hatching. 

There must have been lots of pollinators because this years flowers to fruit percentage is good and  the Falstaff - above- is looking hopeful for a good crop, so much so that I'm going to need to do some thinning out and there's the 'June Drop' too which is the way the tree copes with dry weather and too many fruit.

I looked in labels and found the Apple Blossom Fairy  from Cicily Mary Barkers books hasn't been on the blog before although 36 others have appeared. She painted 168 in total so there is a way to go.

When i googled to find out how many Flower Fairies there are, up popped an ad from Oxfam Shops Online where they have for sale a 1950s copy of three of her books together in one volume. They want £140 for it!!

I know charities need the money and charge the same as on line sellers but £140 for a book donated to them seems a bit excessive. If no one is willing to pay that much what will they do with the book?

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