When we visited the plot yesterday, taking advantage of the dry, afternoon, I happened across this.
One of our pear trees seems to be more than a little confused. It had produced several small clusters of blossom.
I don't suppose we will get any late pears though do you?
This is the tree that I suspect has fireblight. The top part of the tree looks as though it may be dead but the lower branches look very healthy. You may remember as I had read that you should notify Defra if you suspected you had fireblight on pears I sent off an email to ask if they could offer advice. No response was forthcoming so that was a waste of time.
Other bloggers have told me that they had similar problems with a pear tree in the past and that the tree recovered so we will see. I hope this tree doesn't think the end is nigh and is throwing up blossom as a panic response.
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I do hope your tree is just confused and not in a state of panic Sue. Shame of Defra - you'd think an acknowledgement would be the least they could do.
ReplyDeleteI did think as the info said you had to notify about fireblight that they may be a littele bit interested Andie
DeleteGetting no response from DEFRA is no surprise. Lots of the big departments exhibit a "Couldn't care less" attitude. I had the same when I emailed the Army Pensions Office to enquire about my forthcoming pension entitlement. No response at all, despite an invitation on the website to use this method of communication.
ReplyDeleteIt's very frustrating isn't it, Mark?
DeletePoor thing, hopefully a nice rest over winter and it will bounce back for you next spring.
ReplyDeleteI'm hoping so, Janet
DeleteI've had autumn blossom on my apple trees before now and it didn't seem to affect the following season's fruit production. What a shame DEFRA didn't reply. Too busy looking out the window I expect.
ReplyDeleteHere's fingers crossed CJ and that it survives whatever ails it!
DeleteSorry to hear you had no response from DEFRA, I contacted them last year regarding my camellia, and sent off some photos to them asking if it could possibly have Phytophthora ramorum (Sudden Oak Death), I got a prompt reply and an inspector came to my garden 3 days later and took samples he analysed when he was there - and confirmed it didn’t suffer from it. I was very surprised they actually sent someone out, was prepared for sending them some leaves in the post and wanted to know where to send them. I did however contact FERA, a department of DEFRA, perhaps that made a difference?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.fera.defra.gov.uk
I've forwarded my email to this department Helene thank you.
DeleteYou'd think a reply is the least they could do, especially as they ask to be notified. It might just be the mild October that's confused it, fingers crossed.
ReplyDeleteAnd toes, Jo
DeleteI'm with Mark on the bigger organizations having a couldn't care less attitude these days. B.T. my local council, works & pensions are just 3 I've had lack of response from in the past 12 months. Anyway I digress. Our weather has been very mild until about a week and a half ago and last week a couple of my French bean plants started to flower again last week. Fire blight is no joke so I hope the tree eventually recovers. I don't suppose the big organizations will be telling the general public about global dimming either, this could be yet another factor affecting the course of nature.
ReplyDeleteDon't start me on with BT - I had to get very stroppy with them over my sister's telephone - each time I rang I ended up with a different person in India who went through exactly the same process, made the same promises. This went on for months until I erupted!!
DeleteAnyway fongers crossed for the pear!
I'll keep my fingers crossed but I can't find any fongers lol.
DeleteOops! Blume the fongers thay hot the wring kay! :)
DeleteWhat an interesting thought, to think the tree may be flowering because it thinks the end is nigh. I do hope it recovers.xxxx
ReplyDeleteI know some plants flower when stressed, Snowbird, in a desperate attempt to produce seed before they die. It's why if sometimes you over pamper some types of plant they just grow healthy leaves and don't send up flowers.
ReplyDeleteActually I have no idea about pear tree. As long as I know that pear blossom in summer, but this is an autumn blossom. this is new information for me
ReplyDeleteJust a case of a tree that can't tell the seasons Endah
DeleteYour pear tree does think the end is nye and it is almost certainly right. As you know it is very common for a severely stressed plant to produce a last attempt to set seed! - not that it will flowering now!
DeleteI think Defra would be straight to your door twenty years ago, but it has escaped from the cage now and I think they have given up.
I am wondering whether the wonderful flowers on my lilac this year were a final swan song before it succumbs to honey fungus which I will be posting about next week!
Oh dear, Roger honey fungus another harbinger of doom and gloom.
DeleteI hope it's just confused! Such a beautiful tree to loose!
ReplyDeleteSo am I Malar.
DeleteThese articles and blogs are genuinely sufficiency for me for a day.
ReplyDeletePear Trees & Cherry Trees