Alert readers may remember that when we moved here we inherited, among other things, an olive tree in a pot. It was in a rather exposed spot, that meant we spent most of the autumn picking it up after it had fallen over in the various storms that blew in.
The olive tree last winter
After a bit of inconclusive googling, I decided to bring it into our front porch for the winter, a kindness to which it reacted by promptly dropping most of its leaves. So then I moved it back outside in a slightly more sheltered position and it dropped most of the rest, so I just let it sit there looking a bit sad, thinking I ought to repot it or give up on it, or anyway do something about it before it died on me completely.
Obviously, I did none of those things, although I did notice that it had started putting out new leaves, which was a relief, although it was still looking a bit sorry for itself. It’s now back to about the condition it was in when we inherited it, if still a little bald.
Anyway, I was just trimming off the branches which were still leafless this evening when I noticed this
I do believe its decided to flower. A crop of olives must surely be coming our way …
OK, so maybe not, but if anyone knows how to make olive trees flourish in what is effectively the anti-Mediterranean climate, without killing them with kindness, let me know.
There is other exciting tree-survivor news, but that will have to wait for another day
Town Mouse 
I’m relieved that the blog title didn’t refer to your cycling activities.
My parents own a flourishing olive tree which is growing in their back garden in suburban London. Not perhaps the most adverse conditions, and most definitely Down South, but you never know.
yes, sorry! Should have thought of that.
Likewise, I know that an olive tree in a pot can even grow a few olives as far north (/south) as Cheshire.
While it was small(er), it got moved into the summer house for the winter as soon as the first frost was forecast. The shed’s not heated – except by people with tea and occasionally their space heater – but it kept it from freezing. I think the tree’s now too heavy to keep moving in and out – the tub’s a metre across – but coping with the cold now that it’s well established. And too big to blow over.