With The Easter holiday promising warm and sunny weather, I imagine my readers will be out and about, rather than turning on the PC, but for those who do this week's Journal features pictures of Apple blossom taken over the last few days!
The abundance of blossom is truly magnificent. This is one of the earliest blossom periods in the last 40-50 years. The last very early year was 2002. Driving around Kent & Sussex this last week I have taken hundreds of photos, just scratching the surface of thousands of acres of outstanding beauty.
Just to prove its 'The English Apple Man' behind the camera, here is a picture of 'The Man' at work!
With Bramley dominating the culinary market, other culinary pollinators have fallen out of fashion. The Malus has become the standard in many Bramley orchards for pollination and creates a stunning visual spectacular at blossom time!
Of all the apple varieties, Bramley blossom is difficult to surpass for sheer shades of pink and white.
This Cox orchard in East Sussex is not only beautiful, but very evenly covered with blossom, an important factor in achieving optimum yields.
It is hard to believe that Braeburn is a relative newcomer to our shores. Grown on a modest scale by forward thinking growers in the 1990's it has now become an integral part of the UK growers variety mix.
Kanzi, another newcomer has quickly established itself as a firm favourite for growers and consumers. These Kanzi in West Kent are stunningly beautiful this year.
Jazz is staking a claim to be 'The' alternative to Pink Lady and the blossom is every bit as beautiful as the apple is attractive.
This super intensive Bramley orchard is almost certainly the model for future Bramley orchards and creates a stunning 'wall' of blossom.
Below, the bluebells are also very early this year.
One of the joys in the orchard this week, has been the 'hum' of the bees busily working. That and the waft of apple blossom perfume is pure delight.
On this organic farm, I found a pair of pheasants calmly enjoying the evening sunshine amongst the blossom.
Time to finish for this week, but if any reader has the opportunity to get out and about over the weekend the blossom, although advancing quickly, should still be very pretty.
Take care
The English Apple Man