Our apricot tree has been in full flower the past week or two, the best its ever been. The blossom arrives well before any green leaves appear. So far there has been no frost to spoil the flowers - we may yet get a crop for once this year! The pink blush flowers are very pretty but delicate. They don't last long and sure enough today's wind and rain will hasten their demise.
There is a Tang Dynasty poem by Meng Haoran 孟浩然 (689 - 740) which captures a similar observation. But perhaps the poet was referring to the fragilty of life or the transience of youth or the impact of hardship. Who knows? My hope is for apricots.
Here is one translation of this poem:-
Spring Dawn
Sleeping in spring not feeling the dawn,
Birds can be heard twittering everywhere.
The night comes bringing the sound of wind and rain,
Do you know how many flowers fell?
I visited a friend yesterday, she commented on the amount of blossom on her peach tree this year. Let us hope for good harvests
ReplyDeleteA good harvest of peaches would be delightful.
DeleteI never knew you could grow apricots in England although I do remember my mother making jam with some from the store. When we lived in Vienna, apricot jam and apricot everything were available, because they grow prolifically there. I developed a love of apricot jam. I do hope your flowers set and produce fruit.
ReplyDeleteYes, if the conditions are right pricots can be grown successfully here in the UK but the chances are better in the south of England. I like apricot jam too but we have not so far produced enough apricots off our own to turn into jam.
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