How intriguing – is there much birdlife in your garden? What birds do you get? The blackbirds got through all of ours during the recent cold weather – but weren’t interested during the really cold spell at the end of November
There are quite a lot of birds in the garden but as most people here don’t grow crab apples the birds have been very slow to try them. Sardinian warblers sometimes eat some in late winter but I usually still have fruit when the new buds arrive. I have been known to cut them off then as they spoil the look of the glorious blossom.
And one might think the colour would attract them, particularly in a very cold spell. I can see why you might pick them off if they are still theirwhen the buds arrive – I found myself picking lingering leaves off my witch hazels once the flowers opened 😉
Christina the Crab apple is beautiful. He is absolutely right, he is a true star of the garden. You have not dropped the apples yet! Amazing. Have a nice week. Greetings from Margarita.
I grow the crab apples for their ornamental value although I have made jelly which is good served with lamb, you can also add mint to the jelly when making it.
Hi Kris, I’ve been trying to leave a comment on your yesterday’s post without any success at all. Here’s what I said “It has been a brutal year weather-wise for so many places, Kris; I can imagine your joy at the first signs of rain; I felt the same this week when we had a whole day of light rain and a couple of heavy showers on Tuesday; yesterday was gloriously warm and sunny and today it is overcast with possible (but not likely) showers. It is such a shame your beautiful tree has lost its blooms; it’s good you picked some to enjoy indoors!”
Just wanted to let you know there was a problem
The crab apple tree is a beautiful ornamental for the winter garden. We saw one in a botanical garden near us but the apples were yellow perhaps not as catching as your red ones. Amelia
Wow! Such a pretty tree laden with crabapples in January! My grandmother had a similar tree that produced huge amounts of fruit, and I loved their tart flavor. I am not sure whether the birds or I ate more of them.
Creating my own garden of the Hesperides 
Do the birds eat them? xx
Not very much. I think they don’t really recognize them.
How intriguing – is there much birdlife in your garden? What birds do you get? The blackbirds got through all of ours during the recent cold weather – but weren’t interested during the really cold spell at the end of November
There are quite a lot of birds in the garden but as most people here don’t grow crab apples the birds have been very slow to try them. Sardinian warblers sometimes eat some in late winter but I usually still have fruit when the new buds arrive. I have been known to cut them off then as they spoil the look of the glorious blossom.
And one might think the colour would attract them, particularly in a very cold spell. I can see why you might pick them off if they are still theirwhen the buds arrive – I found myself picking lingering leaves off my witch hazels once the flowers opened 😉
Christina the Crab apple is beautiful. He is absolutely right, he is a true star of the garden. You have not dropped the apples yet! Amazing. Have a nice week. Greetings from Margarita.
They usually last on the tree until spring.
That’s an impressive crop! I hear the fruit makes good jelly but I can’t say I’ve ever had any.
I grow the crab apples for their ornamental value although I have made jelly which is good served with lamb, you can also add mint to the jelly when making it.
Hi Kris, I’ve been trying to leave a comment on your yesterday’s post without any success at all. Here’s what I said “It has been a brutal year weather-wise for so many places, Kris; I can imagine your joy at the first signs of rain; I felt the same this week when we had a whole day of light rain and a couple of heavy showers on Tuesday; yesterday was gloriously warm and sunny and today it is overcast with possible (but not likely) showers. It is such a shame your beautiful tree has lost its blooms; it’s good you picked some to enjoy indoors!”
Just wanted to let you know there was a problem
The crab apple tree is a beautiful ornamental for the winter garden. We saw one in a botanical garden near us but the apples were yellow perhaps not as catching as your red ones. Amelia
I also have a yellow one but the fruit don’t stay on the tree.
That sure is a star specimen Christina
Wow! That’s some crop Christina. Your birds don’t know what they are missing which is as just as well as you can enjoy such a fabulous spectacle.
One of the birds that arrives in spring (Sardenian warbler I think) does eat some of them.
Wow! Such a pretty tree laden with crabapples in January! My grandmother had a similar tree that produced huge amounts of fruit, and I loved their tart flavor. I am not sure whether the birds or I ate more of them.
They’re a bit small to eat, but some years I make jelly.
Lovely to have a show like this in winter. Do you know which it is?
I think it was labelled as ‘Everest’, but you can never be sure here.
Oh yes, Evereste is particularly good for hanging onto its berries all winter.
That’s good to know