Crab apples as caught in yesterday’s afternoon sun. There’s a bit of story here too. This year the fruit on our Evereste crab apple tree is absolutely tiny, nothing like the giant size suggested by the photo. But this is good, because it makes us think that the tree has survived being moved back in the early summer. Hurrah! It has produced fruit, albeit apples of elfin proportions.
All through last winter we had ummed and ah-ed about doing something so rash and ruthless as digging up this lovely little tree. I had planted it not long after we moved to Much Wenlock ten years ago. It was the star of an ugly and awkwardly large, raised bed at the back of the house. (You’ve probably seen the crab apple/blossom photos in earlier posts).
In the end we decided to risk it. Graham pruned back much of the top growth, and then effectively dismantled the flower bed around the roots while I dug a big hole at the top of the garden. The transplanting all had to be done double-quick. Then we firmed it in, stamped on the soil to get rid of any air pockets, and gave it lots of water. The final proof of success will be next spring. Will it ever flower again? I think it will.
Tish Farrell 
Extraordinary pic!
Love it
Lovely Anna!
Brovo ! Hope and patience – amitiés – france
Bravo ! sorry
Merci beaucoup! And the apples have a much lovelier name in French: pommes sauvages!
Yay for the tree not only surviving but bearing fruit. Fingers crossed for next spring!
I’ll let you know!
Lovely, hopeful shot. Here’s hoping the transplant was a complete success.
Thanks, Su. I shall tell it I’m expecting it ready for a photo shoot in April 🙂
Lovely photo Tish.
Thanks, Arlene.
I’m sure it will given all the love you have given it. And all our positive thoughts winging their way to you 🙂
It should be a very happy tree with all these positive thoughts. The blackbirds will be on short rations though this year. They usually scoff most of the fruit.
Hmmm, I’m thinking I may have photos of crab apples from the local park, but they’re so small I wouldn’t have thought they were apples. They look much like this, though.
janet
There are some varieties that have tiny little apples more the size of small berries, and they grow in sprays. Sorbus also have apple-type fruit. The Japanese crab apple varieties are usually small and decorative. I think both your and our native variety can grow into monster trees, so tall it can be hard to notice the fruit if they’re growing among other trees.
Ugh! Crab apples!!! I had intended to buy some from the famers market this year but waited too long. There will be no crab apple in the Christmas gift baskets this year. 😦
Now that does sound so sad, John.
Our apple crop was destroyed by gypsy moths this year. Maybe next year. I miss them!
Those wretched moths. Fingers crossed for next year, which is probably my main gardening mantra anyway. Always hoping to do better.
Such a beautiful photo. I love the contrasting colours.
Their colours fascinate me. They are more yellow and orange in their miniature form. Usually they are dark red by now. But am just glad to have them.
Yes, I thought they were an unusual colour. I left my apple tree and vegie garden behind when I moved. Now I have to start a vegie garden from scratch. It’s late for spring planting so I think I will be mostly building up the soil for the next month or so.
That sounds like a wise move, and the bit we often neglect -SOIL. It needs to be happy. Exciting, though, to be starting a new plot. Happy cultivating!
Yep. I’m going to do the no dig garden method here. It involves going out into the country side and buying bags of manure and straw from farm. Great fun.
Just my kind of activity. There may be free compostable stuff too, lying about the place 🙂
Starting with the cardboard boxes I packed everything in when I moved 🙂
Oh yes oh yes. I’ve got quite a cardboard fetish these days. I’ll take anybody’s. Well almost.
Lovely image. Apropos crab apple size, I always remember them being diminutive, we knew a lady who made wonderful crab apple jelly years ago….
Oh yes, they usually are small. Evereste apples are normally the size of large grapes, but this year they’re the size of hawthorn berries – miniaturized miniatures. Mm and crab apple jelly. I’ve not made that for a while. Lovely on croissants.
Yes, large grapes is the size I recall
Another glorious day….love the image Janet:)
I reckon it will flower too. No problemo.
We embarked on a similar transplant but with a much older and well established shrub: ‘ Yesterday, Today, Tomorrow, which was planted underneath the large palm tree in the front garden since forever, apparently but was in full shade and doing absolutely nothing.
It went into shock for a season and a half but eventually came right.
There’s that photo-shopped blue sky again. You are getting good at this!
😉
And there’s another make believe sky or two coming up today. Thanks for the heartening plant transplant story. We had this lovely shrub in Nairobi. It’s a gorgeous creation. I’d forgotten it till now. Aaah!
Hooray for the survivor! I’m sure it will 🙂 🙂 We have one not long escaped a pot and now up against the fence. Not very big and with weeny fruit like yours but I’m hopeful too.
Oh good. I’m glad yours is working. May they blossom together come spring.
It will be fine, it’s a tough little survivor!
I’ll tell it that too 🙂
So glad the transplant is a success Thus far!
I bet it will make it.
I once heard a tip from Martha Stewart’s old garden show – she said to fill the receiving hole with water – but have to be quick so the side dirt doesn’t become too muddy and full the hole.
I have tried it a few times and I guess it helps prevents air pockets and helps roots.
Either way
Being quick is key.
And seems like you made it with this one.
Reblogged this on Journal Edge.
It did survive! 😊
🙂 Happy tree!