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Written by Administrator
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Thursday, 06 March 2008 |
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We sure have a LOT to learn as this year unfolds. Today a friend of ours came by to show us how to cut back our two vines and some of the fruit trees.
On a side note, one of our neighbors died of old age a few days ago. Last night everyone was at the house with the family, using our driveway as overflow parking, and this morning again cars were lined up and down our driveway until all of them drove away together, obviously to the funeral. We don't know the family or the man but I'm preparing some chocolate chip cookies to drop by as here it is very customary for neighbors to go and give condolences.
So our friend Roberto, same guy who runs the Frutta e Verdure produce store in Cortona with his wife Nunziatina, came by to give Keith a little lesson on how to trim up our grape vines and fruit trees. Now our grape vines consist of two growing along the back fence but as Keith and I know, with the right trimming, we should be able to produce some quality grapes.
Roberto trimmed up the vines and explained to Keith what he was doing and why. I set about collecting all the cuttings, just like the little old ladies around here do, because...well...they are mine and make good kindling for the fire!
Roberto also trimmed up our two fruit trees, one which is a plum and the other which is an apricot/plum sort of tree, describing the reason why he was cutting some full branches and leaving others. He also cut back a very old pear tree we have near the gate, in the driveway, and said we should expect some good fruit this year.
We thanked Roberto profusely and sent him off with some of Keith's new batches of Limoncello, Arancello and Pompelcello. Roberto has offered to help us in the future when we decide to plant more vines or need help in other trimmings. We are very thankful for his expertise!
The weather has been crazy, just a few days ago it was spring and I was opening up all the windows and letting the house air out during the day. Yesterday we woke up to the sight of snow in the hills above Cortona and very cold winds. Last night we had a horrible windstorm that was so strong we closed up our shutters mid-day just to keep the noise and air leaks out. It sounded like a hurricane all night and today we discovered that a couple of the cement blocks holding down the pool tarp had actually ended up in the pool!
Never a dull moment in Tuscany!
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Plum/Apricot Tree?
Written by roberto on 2008-04-16 12:45:20
Let me guess, was that a nespola tree? I think in English it's called a medlar fruit? |
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Last Updated ( Wednesday, 16 April 2008 )
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