Apple Blossom Time

After picking up Keith at the airport on Friday we decided to take the N2 route to Bonnievale.  It is a beautiful drive and so different with hills and dales covered in wheat in different stages of ripening and harvesting. 

A few kilometres from Bonnievale we left the wheat fields and natural vegetation of the Stormsvlei Poort behind us and were met with the familiar sight of the orchards and vineyards of the Breede River valley.

The change of route to our home made it feel as though we were on a road trip to an amazing destination. A wheel of the driveway gate had broken off while being operated in a gale. The gate looked sad and embarrassed to be guarding the entrance to the neat property in its damaged condition.

The garden looked cool and inviting despite the 30°+ Celsius temperatures that Bonnievale had been experiencing over the last couple of days.

The rose garden is constantly changing and I am glad that Keith could enjoy the rosarium in full flush. Saturday was devoted to repairing the gate and Keith had to make new pickets to replace the broken ones before he could refit the wheel in order to get the gate up and running again.

The new trees in the orchard are promising to be beautiful trees and I cannot wait to look out of the bedroom window onto a lush green orchard of mature trees. While the apple trees are only blossoming now, the pear trees have already produced bunches of baby pears.
 

Keith repairing the gate

The gate as good as new

With the gate repaired and secure again we could relax on Sunday. We enjoyed the produce of the garden with fresh green salad and orange beetroot as side dishes to the main course and a frozen strawberry and rose-geranium desert. To end with, we had a chilled Limoncello to cool off the hot sunny day.

Frozen Strawberry and Rose Geranium dessert

Frozen Strawberry and Rose Geranium dessert with homemade limoncello

The beans that I planted last weekend have all come up and look as though they are eager to start growing on the bean trellis that I made for them.

I have decided to replant and re-sow the herb garden after the poor performance of the seeds. It looks as though the new plan will be more conservative with fewer experimental herbs and more of the old trusted varieties.

Wedding and Cherry Garland adding colour to the parking terrace

It was good to have Keith home and an extra pair of hands is always very welcome. Sitting in the shade of the old oak tree enjoying what the garden has provided in terms of shelter, food, flowers and setting, it was easy to imagine the Andrew Sisters singing in the background “I'll be with you in apple blossom time…”.

Apple Blossoms