Hysteranthous -blossom before leaves.
Pears do this. Apples which flower a few weeks later take the usual leaves first course to the spring weather shielding the delicate flower buds from frost etc. this has the downs of more energy needed to grow the leaves, and more competition for pollinators. Pear which are more cold hardy have evolved to flower dramatically as early as possible in Spring to attract bees etc but run the risk of losing all with a late frost.

Mystery solved! Kererū poo! Kererū are the native pigeons of Aotearoa and one of the largest in the world. Given their size a food source for Māori. Under a large greengage tree at Beau Vista orchard has been continuous poo each morning. I thought possums but trap those and the possum trap on the tree was not activated. Then they arrived whilst I was working underneath. Three beautiful birds who had been hiding from me for weeks. Must roost in the tree at night. #kereru #orchard #NewZealand

The orchard is changing rapidly now the days are longer and the temperatures are climbing after a slow start to Spring. We are now peak bluebells. They have put on a great show this year. #bluebells #cider #orchard #Wairarapa

Well that's a wrap. Winetopia 2025 in Auckland was great. 2 days of fun. Wonderful customers really passionate about how cider is wine.
Lots tasted. We had 3 offerings a SV Kingston Black, SV Yarlington Mill, and a mixed Perry. Great networking with winemakers.
#Winetopianz #Winetopia2025
#Cider

Winetopia 2025 in Auckland is a blast. 50 stands of premium wines food and of course cider. We are next to Palliser in the Wairarapa section. Masterclasses and live cover band with dancing. Did I mention a fantastic rendition of Dancing Queen? #winetopianz #Winetopia2025 #cider

A good day was had. Now we know a 50 seater bus fits now the drive at TeePee Cider! We hosted a visit by Wellington U3A. Sadly the blossom was late and it rain, rain, rained but with improvisation, a gazebo and a talk, our guests had a good day with cider tastings and good food. #cider #U3A #orchard

Our local park has a magnificent conference pear tree in it. Really quite old and majestic for NZ. This year it is looking spectacular with heavy blossoms. Although late probably due to the colder end to winter most early fruit trees like cherry have heavy blooms now. Promises to be a good harvest in Autumn. #pear #Spring #blossom

The humble forget-me-not self sets and appears each year at this time around TeePee Cidery. Its scienitific name is Myosotis arvensis a species of flowering plants in the family Boraginaceae from the Northern Hemisphere. Introduced in the 1879z it lives to set in the rough parts like the rubble at the side of the driveway. Myosotis alpestris is the official flower of Alaska. #cidery #New Zealand #Aotearoa

Excellent article on cider and what it’s made from. Spoiler alert not often 100% apples. #cider https://www.forbes.com/sites/felipeschrieberg/2025/09/29/how-eu-policy-affects-small-high-quality-cider-makers/

At last! The leaf buds of Tom Putt, our earliest cider apple trees at Beau Vista orchard are opening. No sign of blossom yet though and most varieties are still dormant. #apple #cider #Wairarapa #Aotearoa #NewZealand

Bees visiting the perry pear blossoms on a hot sunny day in Spring #perry #pear #orchard #bees #Aotearoa #NewZealand # Spring

A curious year in the orchard.
Whilst most established trees are late to bloom, now about 3+ weeks, a few of our younger pear trees about 5 years are in full bloom!
Yesterday was warm and sunny and even the honey bees came over to celebrate. #perry #orchard #cider
#NewZealand #Aotearoa

Move over daffodils; it's bluebell time. Although our equinox's winds batter them, they are doing well.
They self propagate so it’s nice seeing bunches appear as well as replanting the bulbs. There are a few white ones but the pink ones have not flowered. #bluebells #orchard #Apples #NewZealand #Aotearoa

This is our oldest Shropshire sheep. She is about 13 years old. We have had her now for 10 years at Beau Vista orchard.
She is losing condition and some weight sure to old age but is still the leader of the others that joined our small flock later. And always happy to see us. These sheep spend all their lives in the orchard or adjoining paddock eating the grass sward, helping us keep the orchard organic. #orchard #sheep ShropshireSheep #organic

1922, Beatrix Potter’s second book of nurser rhymes was published by Frederick Warne, some rhymes from old material. He insisted on illustration changes, including that Cecily's apples become into cowslips and that the barrels of cider be turned into cowslip wine! The rhyme becoming
“Cecily Parsley lived in a pen, And brewed good ale for gentlemen”

These photos is of the original watercolour of Cecily Parsley making cider circa 1905 and the revised.

The perry blossom in opening fast now even in this atrocious weather. Second photo in 1 day later and the 3rd photo is 3 days later! Is 3 weeks late already so perhaps Turing to catch up! #perry #blossom #flowering #orchard #Spring2025

(Alt) Text is a text description of images and is important in social media making it accessible to all users. It is not visible on the page but can be seen by low vision people who use screen reader software. And of use to you, as it allows search engines to find and rank your content!

Wet day at the orchard. It’s been raining a lot over several days due to a norwester atmospheric river. The rivers are high but not flooding. Most of the rain is on the western side of the Tararua ranges and we are to the east. Not everyday can be perfect. Sadly a group that came to visit could not walk in the orchard. #climate #wairarapa #rain #Aotearoa #NewZealand #Spring

Our ‘other’ perry pear is just starting its blossoming. Called Carterton after our nearby town in it’s a very old wilding found in the rural area East Taratahi. Beautiful pink! Small tannic pears with high sugar last year 1.076 SG .so far not enough fruit for a single vari ferment to determine the residual sorbitol sweetness. #perry #orchard #blossom #nzcider #cider

I love the light green lime colour of new leaves on the willows in Spring. It only lasts for a few days before darkening. Spring is a time of such change when plants nearly dormant wait patiently though Winter until their cue to burst forth. #nature #leaves #willow #Spring