Budding hopes not dashed

Icicles forming on new blossoms yesterday show the cold is not over for these apricot trees in Earnscleugh, near Alexandra.

Orchard owner Brendon Walker said temperatures plummeted to -3.5degC overnight, which, with the help of frost-fighting sprinkler water, created the formations.

While ice formed around the flowers, the continuous freezing of new water kept the bud in the middle at a constant temperature so it did not die, he said.

``Hopefully, the bees have done their pollination by now, because the ice will burn off the blossoms. If it gets colder than that, you can struggle.''