Update
Update:
Thanks to everyone who has placed Xmas cherry orders ??
We are not taking anymore orders now and a reminder that North island orders leave tomorrow and South Island orders leave Wednesday which is the last day we can courier prior to Xmas.
However if you have missed out on placing an order, PM or TXT me…Ruby…027 288 6090…and we can direct you to another Orchard in the Valley ?
Remember we are open from this Friday and we will have plenty of cherries and new potatoes available ???
? FRUIT STALL OPENING UPDATE ?
This year we are opening later than usual due to
our early cherries being affected by the weather conditions.�So our first cherry variety will now be the Dawsons ?
Friday the 20th of December will now be the opening date and we will have Dawson cherries and new potatoes available, with other cherry varieties coming on shortly after ????
From Friday onwards, our hours will be from 7am – 9pm everyday until early June 2020.
Cherry courier orders will be going out to the North Island on the 17th and the South Island orders will be going out on the 18th which is the cut-off date which NZ Couriers have given for pre-Xmas orders ??
PM or TXT me if you would like to place an order ?
Even though I thoroughly enjoy working out in the Orchard amongst the trees, I also enjoy running the Fruit Stall during the Season so am looking forward to catching up with everyone and this goes for Mum and Sam as well ??
As usual, phone or TXT me on 027 288 6090, anytime if you have any fruit queries, orders, weather updates etc ??
And by the way, all the other varieties of fruit are looking great on the trees ??
Our Early Ril and Sundrop apricots should be ready
about the 7th January…this is just a stab in the dark ?? so will keep you updated during the next few weeks ?
#bigberthaandcaptainjackareworkinghardtokeepthebirdsawayfromcherriesandnectarinesandapricotssoontobe
#loveyousomuchcaptainjackandbigberthaguardiansofourorchard
#littletootisworkinghardrunningthesprinklersduringthedrydays
#loveyoutoolittletoot
29 November
Nectarine thinning comes to an end this weekend ? I am a bit behind as first the wet weather held me up and then a nasty virus knocked me over for a couple of weeks ??
Will be back into the apples next week ? Love working on my hydralada ? #loveworkingoutside #lovemyjob
Bird Scarer Time!
Okay..not happy….the birds are hammering the cherries and nectarines ? sooo our gas-powered bird scarers, ”Big Bertha” and “Captain Jack” will be back in action as from tomorrow ?
I broke the news to them an hour ago and they are geared up and ready to fire. Thanks little buddies for being our “Guardians of the Orchard” ??
How ironic…the cherries are all under cover but the birds peck holes in the nets to get in and whilst I was thinning nectarines today, the birds were casually flying in and pecking the nectarines right beside me ????? Cheeky little blighters – they won’t be doing that from tomorrow! ???
Here’s some photos from the last few weeks ?
#timetorollbigberthaandcaptainjack
#littletootbigberthacaptainjackguardiansofourorchard
Happy Birthday Sandra!!
Today we wish our Mum, Sandra, a very Happy 65th Birthday.
Her integrity, patience, kindness and empathy makes her ‘simply the best’.
Lots of love from me, Sam & Belle xxx
Here’s a few photos – a walk down memory lane.
16 October 2019
Our darling cat, Lugs, aka…Garfield…Ginger….Parker-Hobbs cat…Stoner Cat.…Lugsy-Pugsy…..has sadly succumbed to old age ??
We knew this day was getting close as she had been slowing down but it is still very upsetting.
Thankfully she wasn’t in pain, so her passing was very peaceful.
Throughout her six years with us she became my little shadow, trotting to the Fruit Stall with me at 5am and watching me pack up the Courier orders and stock the Stall…during the day she alternated her time between customers and Belle and then in the evenings, she would watch me pack up the Stall at 9pm and then would trot back to the house with me.
During winter she would sit under my hydra-ladder while I worked and then would hop on the Mule when I had other jobs to go to.
It is fair to say I will miss my little buddy ?
Frost-fighting begins!
Frost-fighting started last night with Sam cranking up “Little Toot” at midnight ???? She was thrilled to be back in the thick of the action…..It was a fairly long run….“Little Toot” wasn’t shut down until 8:20am ? She did us proud ?? ?
#thankyoulittletootforsavingourcrops
#beautifulsunnydaynow
#keeppollinatingpleasebees
#nosleepformeandsamlastnight
#earlytobedtonight
30 August
Here’s some photos Sam took of the apricot blossoms ??
The bees and the bumblebees are hard at work pollinating ???
Sam hasn’t had to frost-fight as of yet which is great – so fingers crossed frost-fighting won’t start for a little while longer ?????
‘Little Toot’ is a bit annoyed with this wait as she is impatient to get started ???
#loveyoulittletoot #keepworkingbeesandbumblebees
#beautifuldaytoday #youareourfaithfulfriendlittletoot
#wewouldhavenocropwithoutyou
23 August – Preparation for Frostfighting!
The buds are on the move so frost-fighting isn’t too far away ???Here’s some photos of Earli Ril apricot blossoms ?
“Little Toot” our frost-fighting tractor is so excited, she loves pumping the water from the dam as she knows she plays an important role in protecting our crops ??????????
When Sam turns the key, he reckons he can always hear her say “thank-you Sam, I won’t let you down” ???
“Big Bertha” and “Captain Jack”, our gas-powered bird scarers, are peeved as they have to wait another few months before they can fire into action – their jobs being protecting our crops from the birds ?
Without their support we would have a very reduced crop if any at all ?
Sooo all three are vital and loved members of the Hobbs
Orchard team ❤️❤️❤️
#allorchardistshavenervesofsteelthroughoutfrostfighting
#loveyoulittletoot #lovemyjob #wethreemesamandmumhavenervesofsteel
Snow at Hobbs Orchard!!
Sam ventured out this morning to get a few photos of the snow that fell overnight ❄️❄️❄️Just a tad nippy in Hercules Flat today! ?
obb