Saturday, May 13, 2023

The story of the apple tree...


From the time we moved into our house, about 30 years ago, we loved having the old apple tree near the back door.  But just a few years later we noticed that the leaves didn’t seem all healthy, and the apples were not at all good.  We decided to have the tree cut down just over 20 years ago.  We kept the stump for displaying garden art.  Somehow it belonged.  The following season we noticed a couple of shoots coming out of the ground around the stump.  Fast forward another couple of years, and we decided to let the shoots grow--- and grow they did!  Somehow the heart of the tree was still alive and was sending up new “limbs”.  It turned into quite a nice tree as the old stump rotted away.  Then we got a big surprise:  4 years ago the “limbs” sprouted a blossom or two!  And then the following year there were more blossoms and even 3 or 4 apples!  Last year the blossoms were magnificent and there was a bumper crop of apples.  There are blossoms galore this year, and we’re expecting more apples to follow!  The apples still aren’t very tasty, but the critters love them!  

I have no idea if other apple trees have this much will to survive, but we love this one!  I just took this picture on Saturday, and I think it’s perfect for Mother’s Day.

 

10 comments:

Elephant's Child said...

What a wonderful story of the tree's tenacity and will to survive.
Love the blossoms too.

roentare said...

What a story. I used to have a mandarin tree like that. It grew to so big that supplied fruit all winter each year.

Andy said...

Moral: Save trees, plant trees and secure our future.

joaquín said...

La naturaleza afortunadamente es tenaz

Mikael Bergman said...

It looks very beautiful

Bob Bushell said...

Beautiful apple tree photo, and thanks for the story.

Antonio Rodriguez said...

Una bonita historia de tu manzano. La naturaleza es fuerte si se le deja desarrollar libremente. Tu manzano lo ha demostrado.
Un abrazo.

Helen said...

Such a beautiful and amazing story, Bill.
The blossoms are filled with joy and hope!

Margaret D said...

A story of the seedling Apple Trees survival.
All Apple trees bought from a nursery or garden centre down here are grafted. If your tree was, and because you cut that tree back so very hard it's a seedling apple tree because the branches are growing from below the graft I expect and therefore the taste of the apples are not the best...
Just thought I would tell you - this comes from my husband the retired Horticulturist and Nurseryman :)

Anne Le Maître said...

Thanks a lot for this hopefull story.
I wish you...merry apples !