Wednesday 6 June 2012

shopping spree

Briefly separated from the land due to my 'proper job' - relieved there has been a bit of rain (although not much fun for anyone with outdoor engagements and events over the long weekend).
A quick bit of further research before bed-time on Sorbus trees...

I'm interested because of the Sorbopyrus inter-generic hybrid I have as an unusual fruit tree in the orchard. I've since found mention of Sorbo-Aronia hybrids and looked at getting a couple of Aronia (choke berry) bushes out of interest.
Conveniently, Edulis Nursery near Reading have:
Aronia melanocarpa 'Hugin' and Aronoa prunifolia 'Viking' as well as two named forms of the Sorbus domestica - 'pomifera' and 'pyrifera'

Sorbus Domestica has an interesting 'localised' history as The Old Sorb Tree as well as interesting brews (cormier, a cider like drink) made from the berries (more precisely 'pomes') and recently medicinal research regarding diabetes control.

From Foyles Bookshop online, I've ordered Whitebeams, Rowans and Service Trees of Britain and Ireland: A Monograph of British and Irish Sorbus L.
This will hopefully consolidate what I've read from various .pdf files and websites into a coherent overview.

Whilst I was in a tree-buying mood and foregoing a preferred 'local provenance' stance, I spotted a few more Sorbus domestica (as well as a few trees I was after for the field corners and hedges) as cell-grown young trees from Planfor:
10x Prunus avium 30/40cm
5x Sambucus nigra
2x Sambucus racemosa (red berried elderberry)
1x Sorbus intermedia
1x Sorbus aria
10x Prunus spinosa
2x Sorbus domestica

A return down south at the end of the month conveniently puts me near Reading for the trees from Edulis Nursery, so another visit to Bernwode Fruit Trees whilst north of Oxford will take the orchard area to near maximum capacity with:
Apple, Joanating (early fruit)
Pear, Maxstoke Nibbler (small fruits all ripen and drop around the same time)
Pear, Uvedale St Germain (rather large fruit)
Cherry, Nimble Dick (historic variety)

Whilst down south, a weekend towards the end of June using a kiln to make charcoal at The Bulworthy Project, Devon.
If anybody down there has a legitimately spare Sorbus devoniensis sapling I'd be rather interested...

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