Playing Doctor

Happy Monday.  Mr. Autumn and I are enjoying a four-day bicycle ride this week-end called the Tour de Kentucky.  We live in the most beautiful state, and it is always fun to see it up close and personal.  Meanwhile, I want to share a little progress report and a problem I am dealing with.

 

I love a good espaliered tree as compared to a bad espaliered tree.  This is the photo of a good one.  See how the fruit is all lush and red and the leaves have a great glow and are deep green?

 

And now look at this one.  This is a sick tree.  And it is mine.

 

The leaves do not glisten.  There will be no fruit.

 

I was thrilled when we bought this place because I was getting an espaliered tree in the deal.  Someone else had done all of the work, and I would get to enjoy the rewards.  I would polish its leaves and enjoy eating the many apples it would produce.  But no, that won’t happen.  At least not any time soon.  Because, you see, my plant is sick.  I called the tree doctor, and he confirmed that, yes, it is sick.  After consoling me, he told me just what to do.

 

First, the doc told me to buy some of this.  Yes, yes, I know it is for roses.  But look there in bold black letters.  It says, “Disease control”.  My tree has a disease.  You all know it probably too well.  It’s called mldew.  Well, hopefully this three in one will kill the mildew.

 

He also told me to strip it bare.  That’s right.  Remove all of the leaves.  Remember when you were in elementary school and the boy next to you got a buzz cut?  It didn’t look so great, did it? Well, my tree doesn’t look so great either.  At least, not now.

 

 

 

But, hey, that’s okay.  I am a patient gal.  I am going to just sit in my courtyard on a comfy chair and maybe sip a little lemonade (laced with some sweet tea vodka) and wait………wait for it to look like this.

Take care.