A FEW BRIGHT SPOTS INBETWEEN THE RAIN

Its been a crazy May and June, the wettest and coldest since I arrived in pembrokeshire 10 years ago and frankly the idea of global warming enabling the growing of plants from warmer climbs seems to be a non starter as this wetter colder summer weather seems to be an increasing trend.Even if they manage to grow they refuse to flower, I have 4 Diospyrus ( types of sharon fruit) trees all of which are really struggling , 2 olives died lat year and this year the 3 Almonds one of which gave me a lot of nuts 5 years ago died.

Enough of all this global warming and dead trees stuff what is working and what can be seen during the occasional bright spells?

Firstly lets cheer up with the first ripe fruit in the FG well not quite as the Elaeagnus ebbingei was the first (late May)I got a few fruits but the birds won that battle.So its the more traditional Red Currants that will be ready very soon, so heree they are covered with insect netting so I can at least get my share.

Next up is the Tayberry, very nice fruit which is climbing over up and around some blackcurrant bushes and a Japanese plum (Prunus salicina) which has a pitiful amount of fruit this year.

I have also a promising gooseberry crop and the Juneberries will probably ripen sometime during the first 2 weeks of July (funny that). Looking further ahead here is a pic of the Butternut fruits in the development stage as you can clearly see the nut case swelling underneath the flower.

How about lettuce off a tree!!!! No kidding this is just common sense. Many years ago cattle and other animal stock were regularly fed leaves because of the high nutrient value they contain so  many a branch was coppiced during the summer months to provide an useful addition to the diet. Deer regularly brouse trees, this can be seen in deer parks where very tree is neatly clipped to the height that a deer can reach. Now some of these leaves are too tough and bitter for us to eat but all species of Lime (Tillia) produce tasty green leaves that can be incorporated into a salad bowl and are full of minerals and vitamins., just make sure that you pick the young leaves at the branch tips. Here is a pic of my tomato and lime leaf sandwich....lovely.