Ice Saints in May: How’s the weather where you are? Are you doing well?

Dear users, dear authors,
the Ice Saints are coming up next week. How’s the weather where you are?
Are you doing well?

I have a feeling we’re having an early Ice Saint Josefa here, because it’s pretty chilly in Main-Franconia, and the forecast doesn’t look any better further ahead—it’s not supposed to get any nicer or warmer until Mother’s Day.

Best regards, Inge

We really didn’t need the Ice Saints—the other day, when it was below 0 degrees for three nights in a row, all my apricot blossoms froze. I’m so sad about it, because this happens almost every year. And I love apricots so much.

The tree is already too big to wrap up. I’ll still have to figure something out for next year. I’d love to bring it inside my warm house. You can protect balcony plants or potted flowers, but fruit trees :-(

Best regards, Ina

Why not spray it with water and let an ice layer do its warming job? That’s how fruit growers handle it too, after all.

Best regards, Inge

Oh, Inge, I’ve already looked into that. It only works if it’s a very fine mist of water, because then the tiny water particles can freeze immediately. But you can’t do that with a regular garden hose.

Best regards, Ina

Ina, I totally understand how you feel. We always had the same experience with our little nectarine tree. Last year, for the first time, we had small fruits on it that tasted really delicious. I don’t know yet if we’ll have any this year, because there was snow on the blossoms. The fig bush isn’t showing any signs of life either. It’s just too cold. It feels like we’re having the Ice Saints non-stop.

Another thing I’ve noticed is that there are very few bees around. Our apple tree is covered in blossoms, and today I spotted just two bees on it. That’s never happened before. They’ve probably all gone into lockdown. ;-)

It’s way too cold here, too. But our bees are buzzing merrily among the lush cherry blossoms, and yesterday I spotted a species of wasp I’d never seen before on some dried-up leaves in the meadow. Does anyone recognize them? They’re relatively small

Ina, we had exactly the same experience: The apricot trees bloomed beautifully, the bees were feasting… and then the frost hit! Last year, too, the frost ruined our enjoyment of our own apricots!

I always feel really bad about your little fruit trees.
But here in northern Norway, we’re used to these long, cold months. It’s really starting to get on my nerves. It just won’t get warm.

Fruit blossoms are always a bit of a challenge. You just can’t get the irrigation right.
On Sunday we had heavy hailstorms here, but luckily not in the Altes Land, since the cherry trees are in full bloom there.
Today it’s rainy and stormy, with a bone-chilling cold to boot—in other words, everything you don’t want in May.

Well, the weather is unpredictable. Our sweet cherry tree, sour cherry tree, plum tree, and pear tree are all in full bloom. So far, there have been very few losses, but the Ice Saints are still to come. I really feel bad about the apricots. The tree has been here for five years, and there were just a few samples one year. Maybe it just isn’t suited for our latitudes after all.

When it’s warm outside and the sun is shining, all the birds in the area are in our fruit trees. When it’s cold outside, they all stay home in their warm nests. They have plenty of food, after all. That’s probably the case today, too—because it’s “weather for staying by the stove.”

It’s really starting to get on my nerves—I have no idea if many apple blossoms actually survived the frosts. I haven’t been able to harvest any rhubarb yet either; it’s just starting to grow.
But complaining doesn’t help—it’s supposed to finally get a little warmer now.