Our Olive Trees are Alive

A Dead Tree Doesn’t Produce Leaves
My olive trees may not be as old as the hills but they are certainly older than the oldest house in Grange. Unfortunately they haven’t settled down since they moved here from Tuscany and it looked as though two fiercely cold winters on the trot may have put paid to them. There’s not a single leaf to be seen on any of their branches. 

And yet, just now, tiny leaves have begun to appear at the base, and in one case, on the trunk. There’s a glimmer of hope, even if we can safely write off the chance of an olive crop this season.
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There’s also good news from our dahlias. Several are already in flower and the tree dahlia (Dahlia Imperialis) which we left in the ground unprotected over the winter has sprung into life. It joins at least 50 hybrid dahlias in the borders, all of which are growing well. All the gladioli are also thriving, but no sign of life, as yet, from our cannas or tree ferns.