Jonathan's Mistletoe Diary

An apple adventure today – Caroline and I went to help press cider apples at Paul Hurd’s small-holding – right on the edge of the Forest of Dean. No mistletoe in Paul’s orchard – which was slightly disappointing, and also a challenge – we must get some established there from next year. Plenty just down the hill on the edge of the estuary – so maybe it’s partly an altitude thing. Anyway – apples already […]

This pic is the scratting (must check that spelling) operation – chopped apples become macerated apples – ably demonstrated by Caroline… apple scratting

And this pic shows the pressing operation – macerated apples get squashed – ably demonstrated by Paul… apple pressing

Lastly, waste for the birds, and juice for the cider… Should be ready about the time we need to return for the mistletoe berry plantings in the orchard… waste and juice… soon to be cider!

Radio interview with BBC Radio Solent this morning. Usual mistletoe stuff – though I was a wee bit flustered as I was on late, with an echoey ISDN line, ‘cos Radio Gloucestershire’s normal ISDN studio had been double-booked (one day I’ll get the hang of these unsupervised ISDN links – but have had several dodgy experiences with poor sound before – so am always a tad nervous – this time I had loadsa slider controls […]

This year’s Tenbury Wells mistletoe markets may be the last in the old tradition. The cattle market site has been sold for redevelopment – but I understand it will operate as usual for one last season. See www.mistletoe.org.uk for background info – including last year’s weblog with market pictures. Traditionally the auctions are due on three Tuesdays in November/December. This year they should be on 30th Nov, and 7th and 14th Dec. More info from […]

Out into the garden to check the seedlings from 2003. These were planted in February/March on various young trees around the garden ( no older trees available as the garden is only 5 years old). Hope to be doing similar checks on some of the London mistletoe plantings next week – there’s a meeting of the London Mistletoe Action Plan next Tuesday. The plantings there will be more difficult to review – as most are […]

Next stop, the willow – not doing so well here – most have been grazed off by something – probably snails as there are several in the tree this afternoon. But one plant is still thriving – though without any true leaves yet… 2 year-old mistletoe seedling (at bottom of picture) on willow – not doing very well so far….

Last, but certainly not least, the Robinia (False Acacia). There are several seedlings on this – it seems to be a peculiarly susceptible species. But none have developed true leaves – most seem to have been grazed like those on the willow. Several are fighting back – with new shoot primordia apparent from the edges – maybe this is a good thing – there’ll be more shoots per seedling and so a bushier mistletoe plant… […]

Frampton Village Hall – and the WI AGM… setting for my first mistletoe presentation of the season. No great excitement – all went according to plan, talk seemed to go down well, and covered usual miscellany of mistletoe trivia. But it was knackering to put together – finding (and blowing the dust off) all the right slides, and checking all the usual exhibits, and adding some new ones acquired (via ebay, natch) over the year. […]