Be Fruitful and Multiply

 

One of the biggest misgivings about giving up our farm garden was the orchard we had planned. There was one large apple tree and one snag of a peach tree that blew down last summer but still managed to produce a crop, both leftover from the orchard we planted on the day after our wedding with help from attendees. Beyond that, we had around eight other trees that had been planted and were surviving (from the dozen we started with) to form a new orchard. 

When we made the decision to give up that garden and concentrate on the one around our house on the outskirts of town and not 40 miles away, we had three apple trees and two tart cherry trees planted. We have gotten some tart cherries over the years but the apples have been sparse and what there were the squirrels got first. So we made the decision to start investing in more fruit trees as they went on sale and were available because sometimes, all that is left when they go on sale are a few trees reminiscent of Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.

We started with a couple more apple trees in memory of a close cousin of my wife that lost her life to suicide. Last fall, there was a peach tree on clearance which we bought and planted. Someone gave my wife an apple tree started from seed (of unknown origin) and I stuck that in the ground too thinking it wouldn't be long for this world but thus far it is thriving. Then a couple weeks ago, our local nursery finally had their 50% off end of the year sale to deplete their stocks and among the half dozen or so fruit trees was a dandy peach tree, another tart cherry tree and two plum trees. Ever since I saw Kevin Alviti's video post on his beautiful plum trees and how great they tasted, I've had them on my short list.

To sweeten the temptation, they were also offering free planting services to perks members, which my wife happens to be one, and so we lightened their remainder fruit tree selection by four trees. I think there was a sweet cherry tree and a nectarine left behind. They came out a couple of days later to stick them in the ground and fertilize them with their formulated liquid fertilizer to extend the one year warranty to two years which is hard to beat. All I had to do was to cage them against the ravenous deer population which thinks young fruit trees are like truffles on fresh pasta.  

So we are started in the right direction again and hopefully someday in the future I'll be writing posts about not having enough jars or freezer space to preserve their bounty or I can't find anybody who will take the extras off our hands. Until then, I will just walk by them from time to time and dream of those days.