Oblique Cordon

Insanity: doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results.

Well, that might apply to our espalier efforts, because we have not yet had any fruit to speak of from our espaliers planted in 2010. Yet here we are, planting another row of espalier.

While some people might just think of us as mad gardeners, there is a method to the madness. This year we actually had nice blooms on 3 out of 5 of our 2010 trees, so there is hope. And the 5 tiered horizontal cordons simply look great, lending a certain air of formal dignity that nicely offsets the more chaotic natural parts of our garden.

And it’s not the same thing: this time we planted the trees to form oblique cordons, though it will take a few years until you can appreciate them. Confused about oblique versus horizontal? Here is a site with excellent illustrations of some of the more popular forms of espalier.

I am very excited about this addition to our garden. It more than doubled the number and varieties of apple and pear trees on our little lot (some of them are 2-way grafts). And being in a prime location with lots of warmth and sun, I expect them to start fruiting before 2020.