It seems to be a while since I've joined in with Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day and I 'm not sure why. A determined effort will ensue to participate more regularly. Putting a smile on my face today are the flowers of malus x robusta 'Red Sentinel'. I bought this crab apple as a bare root plant in February 2014. The first flowers followed in the spring of 2015. Since then it has had a couple of blips - one year when there were but a handful of flowers and another when there no flowers whatsoever. I'm not sure why this happens. These occasions have been doubly disappointing as no flowers means no beautiful red fruits later in the year for me and the birds to appreciate. This spring my 'Red Sentinel' is dripping with flowers. I love the way the pale pink buds slowly unfurl to give rise to white flowers. It enjoys the companionship of two pear trees which flower slightly earlier but for a brief spell they flower in unison. One of my favourite highlights of the gardening year.
With many thanks to Carol over at May Dreams Gardens for being such an excellent hostess over the years. My first Bloom Day post was back in 2009!
Your white-flowered crabapples look spectacular, Anna. I hope you get lots of fruit to keep the birds happy.
ReplyDeleteI hope that there will be fruit a plenty Kris 😂
DeleteI have just found your blog and I have to say I love crab apples and yours is so pretty!
ReplyDeleteI have grown a few over the years but they get too big here in Australia and I have a small garden .. plus ... the possums!!! They are so cute but so destructive if they take a fancy to something you grow .... I cannot grow climbing roses as they have a feast on them... petals and leaves! lol
Thanks for your visit and kind comment LadyJicky. No possums here but we have grey squirrels which cause damage. Luckily they turn their noses up at roses.
DeleteBeautiful blooms.
ReplyDeleteThank you for visiting Arun and for your comment 😃
DeleteYour crab apple flowers are amazing, so pretty!
ReplyDeleteThey are rather beautiful Pauline and one of my spring favourites 😄 I think that today's rain might be causing some of the flowers to loose more than a few petals.
DeleteI have seen pictures of several crab apples this spring and the thought of having one is growing on me. This one is such a delicate pale pink. Lovely!
ReplyDeleteGo for it Cathy! 😄
DeleteI never liked crabapples because they seem so garish, but I easily enjoy admire your Red Sentinel because the colors are more like apple trees - soft, subtle and pastel. Really impressive.
ReplyDelete-Ray
Thanks for your visit and comment Ray. The flowers on this crab apple are definitely most delicate and pale. They couldn't offend anybody 😄
ReplyDeleteAlways lovely to see appleblossom of any sort, Anna. I have always though lack of bloom was weather related with poor blooming after a bitter spell in late winter - like the Beast, when my crab apples were affected (although not the ordinary apple trees)
ReplyDeleteYes I imagine that it is weather related Cathy but like your apples my neighbouring pears have never been affected. Now I'm scratching my head trying to remember whether the Beast coincided with a non-flowering year.
DeleteYour apple blossom looks so perfect - and your photographs are excellent.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your kind words Catherine 😄
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