Time for an update on Pippi, my Cox's Orange Pippin tree. She is doing better than I expected based on last month's evaluation. She has 20 nicely formed apples hanging from her branches. Not so bad for a young tree.
I love standing under a tree and looking up through the leaves
There is new growth shooting up from the top most branch. Should I be cutting these back?
The bear has been around for a preliminary check. These visits will increase in frequency as the fruit ripens.
Who will win this year?
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| from The Ephemerist |
“Teddie started picking apples without even wondering whether that was allowed. His basket was almost full, when he heard heavy footsteps approaching. Farmer Acker came, and he was very angry!"
Joining in with Tree Following at
Loose and Leafy
How lovely those apples are! I have had no luck with mine. I will have to concentrate on them (or information about them) this winter so that we can try again in the spring. There is something so peaceful about being under a tree. What would we do without them?
ReplyDeleteReading up helps only then you have to go out and actually do what you read. In the Spring I raked back all the moss-added fertilizer-and had them professionally pruned. In the main orchard things are ugly, I think it might be a ph thing plus the need of tons more fertilizer.
DeleteA bear? What sort of bear? Gosh do you ever meet him or does he just visit at night?
ReplyDeleteHe is an old male black bear who has had this section on his route forever. I just see his poop. We had a baby bear come to the back door. I think he might be an orphan. The neighbours have frightened him off with bangers, which hopefully will save his life, as once habituated to human food the outlook is not good.
DeleteI have a little tree I thought was Cox's Orange Pippin but I found some old map that seemed to say it is Greensleeves instead. But it makes greenish yellow apples and stays smaller than my other apples that were supposed to be Semi-Dwarf but turned into standard-sized monsters. Cute bear cartoon, I fortunately only have deer and squirrels visit my apples, though I guess yellow jackets and rabbits and my chickens like them too.
ReplyDeleteHow fascinating to have an old map-and an old tree. In many ways the bear is the least of my worries, he stays out of the way until picking time. It is all the others you mention that can be the real problem.
DeleteYAY for apples friend! How fantastic to have some coming in! And you will have to let us know how this bear story goes for you!!! Loved that illustration up there! Wishing you a wonderful weekend! Nicole xo
ReplyDeletePippins are sooo tasty.
DeletePippins are my husband's favorite apple, but we never see them in the stores any more. As I remember, they were good in pies, too. Pippi is a very good name for your tree!
ReplyDeleteThe absence of the old varieties in grocery stores was one reason I was so thrilled to discover these apples on our property. I like Pippi, it reminds me of Pippi Longstocking.
DeleteI love the thought of you looking up at the sky through your apple tree leaves and enjoying your 20 apples growing but wow a bear in the house (well I mean garden....) now that's a whole other blog post :) I hope your story have a happy ending for both you and the bear!
ReplyDeleteWren x
it is rather sad they are so few but a good sign for the future.
DeleteA lovely post! And yes, we also have apples forming. No bears (teddy or otherwise) here ... but lots of hungry birds!
ReplyDeleteThank you. Apple harvest is one of my favourite times of year and quick with only 20 apples.
DeleteI too love looking through the stained glass of the leaves...I hope you can win a round.
ReplyDeleteI could stay under a tree for hours especially with a blanket and good book.
DeleteCongratulations on the apples. It almost seems you don't mind so much if the old bear gets a few -- ?
ReplyDeleteAt least the bear doesn't destroy them ahead of time. Unfortunately he refuses to share.
DeleteCongratulations on your apples. I only got two from our tree this year. The birds enjoyed them before I had a chance.
ReplyDeleteHow frustrating. I think the birds have given up on us, as the trees in the old orchard produce nothing.
DeleteAn elderly bear! And a baby bear! How can we concentrate on apples when you say you have bears around?! And I get excited when I see a hoverfly or a bee! Coxes Orange Pippins - how can the best of eating apples leave the shops? We get 'coxes' but I don't know coxes what! They are bland and flabby and dont' rattle their seeds. Constantly disappointing.
ReplyDeleteLucy you are so right about the low quality and limited choice in the shops. When I first moved to Canada there were a choice of three varieties-Red Delicious, Golden Delicious and Spartan. My Canadian in laws raved about Spartan but my English palate found it tasteless. Let's hope these COPs come through for me.
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