Yes, I am a nerd. I spent the day phoning garden centers in the area searching for what has been my Holy Grail for a couple years now. Its not that it is especially difficult to find, but by the time I remember I should be looking for it, its sold out. Ok, well I just lied a little. This year the actual number of garden centers that had it to begin with were small, Holes never actually had it on their 2009 list, ones who had it advertised on their websites didn’t have it in stock. And to the greatest irony, where do I find it? The garden center that is the closest to me, yet I have never checked it out. I phoned them up this afternoon, crossing my fingers and they had one left. And at the beautiful price of $15! Can’t beat that with a stick! So even though they don’t do holds usually, the girl could tell that I was excited and she set it aside for me to pick up after getting the kids from school and dinner.
So its in the ground, and I can’t wait till next year, I hope it starts producing, its the sweetest cherry that we can grow here on the prairies, there are many others, but this one has the highest sugar content out of the “sour cherries” which is why I had to have it over any others. I am sure I would love to make jams and pies and preserves out of them, but I mainly want them for fresh eating during the summer. (ah, one can dream). So its a Crimson Passion Cherry bush in the picture that you see. Looks less than impressive but crossing my fingers for a cherry laden tree in 2-3 years.
I am also heading back there this weekend, they have amazing apple trees (for $59.99!) of every kind you can imagine, and that is what is going in the front ASAP. I am so excited to finally aquire some of my fruiting trees!