Chopped Cherry

In September 1991 we planted a Stella cherry tree on the north side of the cottage.  Its label clearly identified it as being a “small compact tree”.  My idea was that it might be espaliered, but somehow that didn’t seem to work, and over the years it grew taller and taller. 

Tall (but compact) cherry tree

That was fine, except that it was impossible for us to get netting over any but the very lowest branches, and the vast majority of the crop was relished by birds, who dropped stones and shat pinkily.  The few fruit we manage to salvage are always beautiful, and I want more!  This year’s harvest now finished we decided that today was the day to remove some of the higher branches in the hope we’ll be able to “net” more fruit in future.  Stephen sawed off first one large branch and then another.

Second branch down

  With use of the neighbours’ green bin as well as our own, we got rid of all the twigs and leaves.

All cleared up

Now there’s just a pile of sticks, ready for another garden project.

Sticks awaiting use

 

Provided the tree doesn’t object to such major surgery, we hope that this year’s crop will be more easily protected and reserved for human consumption.

 

“The little birds are sweet and cute
but they may NOT have all my fruit.”

 

 

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