Misty October morning in Hungary no 13

Does that hurt the apricot tree? Or do they cohabitate nicely...

I'm sad to say the Apricot died. It has the Virginia, a clematis, some variegated ivy and a morning glory on it at the moment. In this view the Virginia creeper is the main thing because of its Autumn colour.

Was the apricot a victim of the cold spring weather? or was it just too tender for the climate? The climate here is chancy for some fruit trees...but on the Niagara peninsula they have peach trees and grow some grapes...

It's not too tender. They do well here and there is a lot of fruit grown around here. This was an old tree that was in the garden when we got here. It had some fungal disease inside, that blocked it's capillary systems so that sap could not rise, according to a friend of ours. It was in full leaf 2 years ago, gave us a very good harvest, then suddenly all it's leaves wilted in an unnatural way, since it was too early for Autumn and it died.

What a tragic loss, although it has become what I call a nursery tree, where other things can live and grow until the form itself is no more. Unusual beauty now. :-)

Wow... thanks GT... I think this is from the old testament...
"As I went in...and out again...
From out the dead...the living came!" It was a riddle...have you heard it before Chris? It also occurred to me that perhaps you have a plant, shrub or tree growing in your garden that was host to the fungus that killed your fruit tree?

Yes Lori it's from the book of Judges ch 14, a riddle that Samson gave to young men of Timnar, referring to the lion that he killed and the bees nested in it's mane etc. We've got lots of bees but no lions I'm happy to say.
Going back to the fungus, we have a number of old trees that are not 100% healthy but have no idea whether they are host to the same fungus?? How would we tell, or is there anything we could do, do you know??

I'm no expert on fruit trees and wouldn't presume to offer any advice, Chris...chemical treatment for fungi is very toxic, and as if in reaction to our treatment of them...they have evolved an incredible tenacity... I know in a garden/orchard it's impossible to quarantine which is one strategy...and it is one of natures wonders that the dead can act as a haven for new life...but in the case of fungus on fruit trees I would be very careful to get expert advice for the old and valuable tree's treatment. perhaps you could take pictures of the effected bark, branches, buds or blossom...and email it to a university of perhaps take the pictures to the botanical garden for the experts to look at. Even if it was already a fait accompli when you bought your home and garden...at least you will have knowledge of how to treat it if it should show up again. As usual...as a second thought...if you have pruned the tree...make sure that the wood you've pruned away is burned.