meeyauw: apple blossoms

Showing posts with label apple blossoms. Show all posts

Thursday, June 09, 2011

Apple Orchard Update

Two of the new apple trees

So far, the ten new apple trees are doing beautifully. They have developed many leaves and even some buds! We may not be getting apples from them this year, but they are growing big and strong.

The apple blossom in the photograph above is from the small tree below. This tree was growing on its side for years after it "fell" off a cliff. Using he tractor, John dug it up and planted it in the side yard near the brook. We didn't know if it would survive this transplant, but it leafed out and blossomed on May 26.

Transplanted apple tree

The older trees in the orchard are doing great. Let's hope conditions remain good for apples this year!

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Sunday, May 22, 2011

Early In May

Apple bud eaten by deer

Spring in northern Vermont begins after the last snowstorm and before the first black flies. It is when you walk your land to see what was damaged or has died and what is growing. There may be something new growing on your land or you may notice that it will be a good year for one species of plant. Early in May we saw how every apple bud up to five feet up on the trees has been eaten by the deer this winter. Apple picking will be a bit difficult this fall!

The fiddlehead of the interrupted fern (Osmunda claytonia)

The grove of interrupted ferns on the bank of the brook near the spring well is not as lush as it used to be. That may be because we have walked in the area too much. But the many ferns that are there are strong and healthy (below).

Spring azure butterfly

The first butterfly photographed this season was the spring azure. They are very small and startlingly blue on the top. This is the underside of the wings. The first butterfly spotted this year was the mourning cloak in April.