After much pondering, I decided to plant the accidental fruit trees in the courtyard, for now, anyway. It turns out I have seventeen trees, not eighteen, a far more manageable number…..NOT!
Seventeen trugs and bags of compost were bought and bins and bins of top-soil from a local Buy Nothing group were acquired.
I cut back the shrubs growing along the fence and began lining the trees up in front of them.
It’s remarkable how perfectly they all fitted into the space, it’s as though it was meant to be. The final two trees are against the wall just behind the blue pot on the top right.
I bought a box of wildflower seed and scattered it into the trugs, the wildflowers shouldn’t drain the trees and soil of nutrients and should be wonderful for the pollinators. The mix includes annuals and perennials.
I’m hoping to keep these trees at a manageable height so they don’t overpower the space, but I can see that may be a battle I’ll quickly lose when they fill out and start growing.
The trees are looking a little, well, totally bare at the moment but buds are already appearing. They should be a pretty sight when they all blossom next spring.
So, there you have it, one walk-through, accidental orchard in my little courtyard.
And Finally…
Given it was No-Mow-May, our front lawn became a meadow…
not that we let it go on purpose, the lawn mower threw a hissy fit and had to be sent off for repair, but we’re sticking to the No-Mow-May as far as the neighbours are concerned.
Until next time, stay safe guys.xxx
Thanks Peter, I do hope so.xxx
Hope the accidental becomes successful.
I love the title, The Accidental Orchard and how cleverly you have accomodated them. You don’t need to move house yet then.
I had to do ‘No Mow May’ in the areas where bulbs were growing which is fine until you have to ask your OH to strim and rake it when it’s overgrown. My Pianist is all in favour of the dignity of labour, as long as it’s not his labour. I’m still hearing about it days later.
Thanks Chloris. They are housed for now, they may outgrow that space pretty quickly if I don’t keep them in check. Hahaha, the poor pianist!!! xxx
I do like the way you’ve found space for your accidental orchard 🙂
I hope the trees do well.
Enjoy your weekend.
All the best Jan
Thanks Jan, they should look better once they leaf out a little.xxx
I think it was fate that your Hubby’s finger slipped on the key and ordered that many trees – they fit beautifully! We couldn’t quite manage no mow May here – the grass annoys me when it gets to a certain length. Love the orchard sign! :O) xx
Thanks Veggiemummy. I was surprised to get them all in such a small space, I’m hoping the branches don’t grow horizontally or it’ll end up like sleeping beauties’ hedge. xxx
Oh well, if it’s only 17 trees, then that’s alright. We don’t have much lawn but I have designated a patch in the back for no mowing year-round. Kind of mixed results so far.
Thanks Jason, lol 17 trees is so much more manageable than 18. I always try to leave an area of lawn unmowed , mixed results same as you.xxx
It’s one thing to find a spot for seventeen trees, but quite another to find a spot that allowed you to arrange them so nicely! I can’t wait to see them begin to grow, and for their flowery friends to develop. I smiled at your phrase, ‘accidental orchard.’ I’ve often called the plants that pop up in sidewalk cracks and such ‘accidental gardens.’ Like your orchard, they always make me smile.
Thanks Linda, I’m looking forward to seeing them grow a little, they should look pretty when in blossom. I love accidental gardens too.xxx
I love the idea of an accidental orchard in your courtyard, and if you can keep them from getting too big, they will look lovely during summer. Good luck with the project, Corvid has made us all adventurous in the garden!
Thanks Gerrie. I am hoping to be able to control the height of the trees, they should look good once they leaf out a little.xxx
Wouldn’t it be great if all those trees gave you fruit? Our allotment paths look as though we were following no mow May too.
It would be good if all the trees fruited but given they are small I wouldn’t expect mush fruit for the first couple of years. Isn’t no mow May a good idea. Thanks Sue.xxx
Oh my. If my lawn mower quit, a meadow would not be the result 🙁 More like hip-high weeds! 17 Trees?!? Surely you’ve qualified for Orchard.
It will be the strangest orchard ever! Thanks Anne.xxx
It’ll be interesting to see how they progress, and whether you can keep them to a manageable height.
Well done on the no-mowing.
Thanks, and you too. xx
Thanks Flighty. I am hoping to keep on top of the height of the trees, it will be fun watching them leaf out. I wonder if I’ll get blossom this late.xxx
How lovely, all those fruit trees! Cooking, bottling and giving away that fruit will be a fulltime job in the autumn! Love your grass. xx
Thanks Gill. There should be plenty of fruit down the line. Hubs has his hands full getting the lawn back.xxx
It looks fabulous and now I can’t wait to see how it develops. I think I have mentioned that the ‘no mow’ way of being is one I love. One of my dear friends had several acres some of which had been manicured. He let it all grow into natural meadow with mowed walkways. It was and still is wonderful.
Enjoy your beautiful garden….Janet XXXX
Thanks Janet, I’m looking forward to seeing them leaf out. Oh, your friends meadow sounds just wonderful. xxx
I like the way you’ve found space for your accidental orchard. It’ll look a picture when the trees produce blossom and sowing wild flowers to attract pollinators was a good idea. I’m looking forward to how it all develops.
Thanks Linda, I can’t wait for the trees to leaf out a little, it all looks a little bare at the moment. It should be lovely next year when they are all full of blossom.xxx
Hello there YOU ! LOL
The accidental orchard is going to be AMAZING ! and I love that you are under planting the wild flowers with them .. pollinators need all the help possible and this is going to be a FEAST for them !
I still can’t wrap my head around handling so many of these “baby” trees .. gardening is always keeping your eyes pointed toward the future of plants, and you have certainly been doing that 😉 Well done !
No Mow May is too cute .. keep going ! LOL
Thanks Joy. I’m hoping for a lovely display of wildflowers, I’m sure the pollinators will appreciate them. I am hoping to keep these trees at a manageable height.xxx
Your mini orchard is amazing, you are going to have so many apples in the years to come! Well done with your meadow, the wildlife must be enjoying it, I’m loving mine at the moment. x
Thanks Pauline. It’s amazing how many insects are attracted to an unmowed lawn. Yours is lovely!xxx
Has ‘No mow May’ turned into a continuum for June?
I wonder how the soon to be flourishing fruit trees will look when they form an arch of leaved branches decorated with their various fruits. It could be an ideal venue for newly weds to have photos taken, for a useful consideration. The dosh would assist you with obtaining the necessary gardening help, preferably a tall one (or two) to keep it all nicely arched and in trim.
Your ingenuity with the unexpected number of trees is commendable and does not seem to have any bounds.
xxxxx
Hubs has his mower back so is tackling the lawn in stages, it’ll take time to get it in shape! Oh, the thought of an arch of fruit trees sounds lovely, I’ll have to work on that! Thanks Menhir.xxx
Gorgeous! It will be glorious when they all bloom, and how wonderful that they fit the space so perfectly. I love the wildflower mix, too. What fun! Your creativity always inspires me.
We left a big parcel of land unmowed, too, not because of May, but because it’s next to the woods and little critters like it there…grasses and a flowers bloomed, like in yours. I like it! 💛💚💙💜
Lovely, merry post. Thank you. xxxxx
I’m looking forward to seeing the trees leaf out a little. Oh you must post on you wild land, I bet so many creatures love it, it sounds lovely. Thanks Kitty, love and hugs to you all.xxxx
Well, the wild grass is flowering, but everything’s withering from the drought now…😢
We had a no-mow May too, just because the grass never dried out long enough to get it cut with all the rain. I hope your trees do well for you. I had a few patio trees, growing on dwarf rootstock, in pots but they just didn’t do well so they’re now in the ground and much happier. They’ll certainly make an impact in your courtyard, all those trees. Looking forward to seeing what you do with all the fruit.
Thanks Jo. I think a lot of people had a no mow May due to the weather. Good to hear your trees are happier in the ground. It will be interesting seeing how the Accidental orchard plays out.xxx