Thursday, October 05, 2017
Airlie Red Flesh Apple. First Harvest. 10.5.17
Last year I picked up some scion of "Arlie Red Flesh" apple at the Home Orchard Society scion exchange. It took, grew rapidly, and there are a few apples on that branch. This was my first one, ever. Cool to look at, slightly tart, sweet, pretty good tasting apple. Others have re-named and trademarked this apple as "Hidden Rose", but it is not patented.
Sunday, October 01, 2017
Transplanting Columnar Apple Tree. 10.1.17
Columnar Apple Tree Grafted to Rootstock Sucker. Transplanted 9.30.17 |
A few years ago, root-stock suckers grew from an apple tree that I had cut down the year before. I believe it was a semi-dwarf size. Just playing, I grafted a columnar variety onto the root-stock. This weekend, I wanted to transplant it to a more suitable, permanent location.
When I dug it up, the root was rather oddly shaped, I imagine due to the origin from a prior tree. I don't know if it will survive, but nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Dawn Redwood, One Year Later. 10.1.17
Dawn Redwood Tree at One Year. 10.1.17 |
Dawn Redwood Leaves. 10.1.17 |
It did nicely, leafed out nicely, and grew about a foot taller. I didn't expect much. The adage is First year sleep, Second year creep, Third year leap. I think the second year grown is at least "creep" so maybe next year it will leap. These trees have the potential to grow 5 feet per year.
Dawn Redwood when planted 11.17.16 |
Monday, September 25, 2017
Leyland Cypress Trees at 18 Months. 9.23.17
Leyland Cypress Trees at 18 Months. 9.,23,17 |
These trees were about waist height, when I planted them approx. 18 months ago. I watered them in 2016, but only twice during this hot dry summer in 2017. They have no deer damage at all, very important in my yard which is a Smörgåsbord on a deer super - highway. These are among the fastest and most vigorous trees that I have planted. At this rate, next year they should start filling in, between the trees, and develop into a nice, woodsy, privacy barrier.
Jonared Apples. First Harvest. And Apple Pie.
These are Jonared apples. I grew them for nostalgic reasons. My parents had a Jonathan apple tree in their yard, more than 50 years ago. I couldn't find a Jonathan at the time that I planted this tree, but Jonared is just a red sport, so the apples should be the same. This is the first year that it bore. I planted it about 4 years ago. The fruit set was very good this year - several dozen - but deer managed to get into the tree cage, and damaged about half. This was a hot dry summer, and I watered this tree, but not a lot.
The Jonared apples are crisp and tart, not very sweet. I read that Jonathan apples need a Midwestern climate to reach peak flavor. That's OK, my wish was to make a pie.
In our household, during my parents' later years, it was my dad who made the pies. He always used tapioca starch as a juice thickener, but I usually use flour. In his honor, I used tapioca starch this time, sold locally as tapioca flour, in the specialty flours section at the grocery store. It worked much better than my usual flour, wasn't soupy at all, even with a hot pie. I usually add a half teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, plus 1 teaspoon vanilla that I mix with the sugar before mixing with the apples. Very happy, reminded me of my dad's pies.
The Jonared apples are crisp and tart, not very sweet. I read that Jonathan apples need a Midwestern climate to reach peak flavor. That's OK, my wish was to make a pie.
In our household, during my parents' later years, it was my dad who made the pies. He always used tapioca starch as a juice thickener, but I usually use flour. In his honor, I used tapioca starch this time, sold locally as tapioca flour, in the specialty flours section at the grocery store. It worked much better than my usual flour, wasn't soupy at all, even with a hot pie. I usually add a half teaspoon cinnamon, and 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg, plus 1 teaspoon vanilla that I mix with the sugar before mixing with the apples. Very happy, reminded me of my dad's pies.
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