04/02/2026
“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” — Lady Bird Johnson
This quote came to mind several times of late while in the orchard… I’ve been trying to figure out why the trees are dropping fruit.
As an unwritten rule, Mayhaw trees do much better under stress - a bigger yield, with prettier fruit, when slightly stressed - we’ve witnessed the phenomenon ourselves many seasons over the years.
However, key word being ‘slightly’😳 our warm December, followed by below freezing temps in February (during bloom & fruit set for about half the orchard) followed by next to no rain in March has definitely taken its toll… to add insult to injury, it seems fire blight blew through when about half of those were blooming!🤦♀️
BUT (this is where the quote comes in) the late blooming Maxines seem to be taking up the slack. It may not be a banner year, but there will be berries, a few ugly early ones, and perhaps some beautiful late Maxines. We do need some rain, the kind only our God can provide.
Which brings a verse to mind: 2 Chronicles 7:14
Our lands could definitely use some healing!👩🌾
