For the first time, our apple espaliers look like the real deal (we planted them five or six years ago, depending on whose memory you're asking). Their trunks have thickened up nicely, and they have the beginnings of gnarled spurs (the bits that bear the fruit). They are loaded with blossoms! This is all in thanks to Matt's careful pruning and training.
But getting apples is not easy. With diligent spraying of Surround, an organic clay-based barrier to keep out the evil curculio bug, we can coax a modest crop. Then, when squirrels haul our whole harvest up into the neighbor's maple tree, we can dodge the cores as they're hucked at us from above.
None of this matters to me, though, because I am wholly sustained by beauty, and I do not need to eat food.
7 comments:
Your apple trees are so beautiful! I have some non-espaliered ones, which have not begun to bear yet... You are really scaring me with the whole not-getting-any-fruit thing - hope that's not really true!
hi spurge... i think you'll have better chances with a whole tree full of fruit, because you'll have some to share. i think the espalier is just really tricky because you can't afford to lose any fruit!
Wow, wholly sustained by beauty! No wonder you're so slim.
The squirrels I used to know would eat just one bite from two sides of the apple, spit out the peels, and then deposit the rest on the top step of the porch. Beauty is at least more sustaining than irritation at squirrels, which has always been my downfall.
Congratulations to both you and Matt on the beauty of those trees. They've grown out of their adolescence into loveliness. That's good enough. Food will follow.
Your photos are really beautiful. I'm inspired; thanks.
Haha! Love this post. I think I may be half to 2/3 sustained by native plants (and not the edible ones!) It's funny how that works eh?
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