A new year, the same trees. Yes I probably should follow something new, I have other trees I love equally as much as I do the dear Quince Brothers.
I could start to slavishly follow my Liriodendron trees, I started with one but ended up with two, as you do. Similar to the Quince Brothers, I am waiting for the Liriodendrons to fulfill their destiny. They have been in the garden a good sixteen maybe seventeen years but they were very young when planted so have yet to flower. Oh how I long for that moment when I look up and there is one of their distinctive flowers waving back cheerily at me. Maybe this year I tell myself. Once they were past fifteen years in the garden the 'maybe next year' started to be a thing as they can take around twenty years to consider flowering. Maybe this year they will consider it a good year to flower, maybe....
But the Quince Brothers would now be hurt if I moved away from them wouldn't they? I feel they would feel rejection and sulk. I am sure it was my fault for over-pruning that made them fail to produce a single quince last year. I usually get at least one. It feels too late to stop following them: had I done so after the first year, or even the second then it would not feel so bad, but now I feel committed to them. So forget the Liriodendron flowers, forget that possible moment of joy and whilst the Quince Brothers sleep the deepest they sleep, let us dream of blossoms and quince fruit to come.
Time will tell!
More followed trees can be found here on the delightful Squirrelbasket blog.
Take care and be kind.
