Although pruning season is winding down, we’re still in full pruning mode. The exceptionally cold January and a scattering of inconveniently placed storms put us behind. But the temperatures have remained on the cool side, the trees are still very much dormant, and it’s fine to keep pruning for now.
April is beginning its slow warm-up. I’ve resisted test-digging a tree. I’ll do that in a day or two. Frost-free digging will signal the start of tree-planting season. It comes right on the heals of pruning season with not much more than a few minutes interlude. Get out the shovels!
Today Cammy and I finished up the pruning. I’ll do another day or two of looping water sprouts at some point, but for the most part we’re done.
Ara macao (April 2024)
The birds are “flocking” to the farm. New ones daily. I haven’t mentioned the Robins. They’ve been here for a while now. The Goldfinches are here. The Phoebes arrived two or three days ago. The Yellow-bellied Sapsucker is back. Cammy saw a flicker today out on Rte 3 and heard one near the house. We keep expecting the Evening Grosbeaks to desert us and head north, but they’ve stuck around so far. We can wander around in the orchard or sit by the window and stare at the feeder all day and never be less than mesmerized. Who knows, we might even see a Scarlet Macaw perched up there on the gutter!