I looked back over my old posts to see if I recorded bud break in 2016, and found a note posted on May 13 where I mentioned March 20 bud break for some of the hybrids and the Viognier. Although we have recently had sufficient warm weather to get people talking about the end of winter, we are still a month away from the date the buds started pushing last year.
This weekend—Feb. 18 to be precise—the first blossoms of Spring showed up when the few remaining Callery pears started to bloom. Callery pears, with their showy white flowers, are the first to bloom in the rural areas around here. They are nasty critters, though, with their long thorn-like spurs and tangled growth. I grew tired of the constant puncture wounds that had me bleeding from my head and arms when I mowed, and took them out last fall. In Charlotte, however, the cherry trees and the saucer magnolias are already in bloom, more than a week ahead of the countryside. I suppose the warmer ambient temperatures of the city contribute to that. My cherries and saucer magnolias are weeks behind those in the city.
The first daffodil opened today. I suppose much of that tardiness is based on variety rather than location, as I have seen neighbors' blooming for weeks. Regardless, this is another marker for future reference.
One of my fruiting pears (I do not know the variety) also opened it's first blossoms over the weekend, and today the tree is in full flower.. The Bartlett pear standing 15 feet away is a week behind. The peaches and nectarine are ready to flower as well, and with the mild weather outlook for the week, should be in full bloom by the weekend. Last year, a late freeze that pushed temperatures to the mid 20's dealt a blow to the peaches. The apples, however, are still fast asleep.
These observations help me decide when to spray the ground under the vines with herbicide. I want to do it as late as possible to allow the crimson clover and fescue to attain maximum growth, but before the grape vines start pushing buds and make them vulnerable to the glyphosate.
Right now, the first week of March looks like a good target. That date will also mark the start of fungicide treatments for the 2017 growing season.
The cycle begins. Again. Yay.
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The largest of the remaining Callery pear trees, with its white
blossoms, is the first sign of Spring.
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The Saucer Magnolia, another
early bloomer
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One of my fruiting pears (I do not know the variety) also opened it's first blossoms over the weekend, and today the tree is in full flower.. The Bartlett pear standing 15 feet away is a week behind. The peaches and nectarine are ready to flower as well, and with the mild weather outlook for the week, should be in full bloom by the weekend. Last year, a late freeze that pushed temperatures to the mid 20's dealt a blow to the peaches. The apples, however, are still fast asleep.
These observations help me decide when to spray the ground under the vines with herbicide. I want to do it as late as possible to allow the crimson clover and fescue to attain maximum growth, but before the grape vines start pushing buds and make them vulnerable to the glyphosate.
Right now, the first week of March looks like a good target. That date will also mark the start of fungicide treatments for the 2017 growing season.
The cycle begins. Again. Yay.
I really love watching new growth in the spring-- reminds me of new beginnings! Love seeing the buds burst open on all the beautiful trees in Charlotte and surrounding areas--pink in all shades ans white as well. Just learned the beautiful trees blooming now that I call "tulip trees" are actually saucer magnolias😊
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