Epic is born

So here we have it.  A mammoth raised bed planted with trees (no really - look again).

The planting plan - for my reference as much as your interest is, from right to left, front to back

Apple Stirling Castle, Apple Red windsor

Pear Gorham, Plum Victoria (blue string)

Plum Majories seedling (blue string), Pear William Bon Chretian

Apple Ribston Pippin, Apple Discovery.

Before I get hordes of complaints - the trees are secured with tree ties - but the tree ties are secured by string.  

Yes I know they are planted too close together.  Local wisdom is that you'll never get fruit trees to thrive up here - but if you plant them close together - they might give each other enough shelter to allow some growth, and some fruit.  I guess this is a bit like sheep huddling against the wind.

The pears in particular are 'experimental' - a term insisted upon by the vendor - he doesn't think they stand a chance.

Regular and active readers might spot that the raised bed faces East - with a swathe of trees blocking in the West.  This was a difficult decision.  Fruit ripens in the warm afternoon sun - in the west.  But our vendor was insistent that we had to protect the trees from the winds above all else - and mostly our winds approximate from the west - so the need for shelter has taken precedence over the need for sun.  Mmmm.  Not sure about this myself.

Credits: - 

Changeworks - especially Laura and Daniel.  Thank you guys - the light on the piccy is quite Changeworksy don't ya think?  

Tom - sterling work my man.

Malcolm and Helen, who, possibly unknowingly, gave me the inspiration to get on with it.

Jussi - for having a quick chat with a man with a digger - when I wasn't looking.  It might still  be not finished had it not been for that intervention.

Butterworths Organic Nursery

(Kate Winslet might like to know that I'm available for coaching sessions).