Wednesday, April 27, 2011

It's that time of year again...

Yes, indeed...it's that time of year again...when our apple tree goes into full production...and boy...does it produce!! We planted this apple tree when we first moved to our house...roughly 27 years ago...it was so tiny...maybe a 3 foot stick...and now...well...she's a beauty!


Not only does she provide apples...for just about everyone we know and some that we don't and a food bank or two...but she gives us much needed shade over the long hot summer...

Her branches reach far out from her trunk...high into the sky...





Her branches are a bit gnarled and weathered with years...







The woodpeckers and other creatures have given her a beating...










But each spring she comes out of her winter rest...











She gives refuge and a nice perch to friends...














And produces like mad...













All of these wonderful apples...


Of course these apples are very tiny now...they will be ready to pick mid-summer...then she will make sure we have enough to get us through Autumn and produce a much smaller second harvest...

Oh dear apple tree...we have a love-hate relationship...I love the shade and the tasty apples...but the work ahead of me...well...let's just say for the next several months...she's a high maintenance gal...I guess I better start thinning out some of this fruit...

Enjoy your day, my friends!!


















10 comments:

yodafatkitty said...

Pretty, and so spring-like! We're supposed to get very cold and have a bit of snow tonight. Thunderstorms and hail for tomorrow.
So much for spring around here!

Traci said...

What a gorgeous tree! It's so neat to see how something grows over the years.

Kelsie from Our Country Home and Studio Photography said...

What a wonderful lady she is and so very generous sounding too.

Thank you for stopping by to visit our Gopher Tortoise today.

Blessings Kelsie

Rebecca said...

Wow-what a huge tree! So many wonderful pics!

Old Time Cindy said...

That is so cool that you planted that tree years ago and it produces all that fruit for you now. Grand lady!

Michelle said...

So much like the book, "The Giving Tree".

Baba said...

Hi Linda, what a wonderful apple tree you own..wish I was there to pick a few for myself.

Your Anniversary is also on February 2 like ours.My granddaughter was born on our Anniversary 3 years ago.Two events to celebrate on that special day.
Thanks for your visit to my place today. Hugs,Baba

Beverly said...

That is a beautiful tree. I guess I didn't know they were so much work. I think if I could have one fruit tree, it would be an apple. That's so great you have so many to share. Lot's of ways to use an apple.

Unknown said...

Hello! What a beautiful tree. Talk about The Giving Tree! Like yours, our Doves nest and retrn each year and the 11 eggs belong to the duck couple. I pray I get to see them imprinting their Mama! Love that you share you apples with a food bank. Have a wonderful weekend, Sunny109

LindyLouMac said...

A beautiful old apple tree, I might do as you suggest and thin our fruit this year as we had more than we were able to cope with when we harvested our apples last year.