New Trees

Last year, I met a gentleman who knows everything there is to know about trees. Okay, he probably doesn't know everything, but compared to this novice's knowledge, he's a wealth of information. Andy was kind enough to have Paul and I over just before Christmas and give us a tour of his property. Unbelievable! I can't begin to tell you how many varieties of fruit and nut trees he has. He also provided info on his favourite Canadian farms and nurseries. Turns out he makes a trip to Montréal every spring and brings back trees and shrubs from his favourite supplier, Windmill Point Farm. He volunteered to bring back any trees we might like to order. I ordered today! (I get far too excited about fruit trees.) Here's what we'll be adding to the backward leonard landscape...

• Chums (2) - a cross between a cherry and a plum. Need two varieties for good pollination.
  
• Honeyberry (2) - edible honeysuckle. They are the first berry to ripen in these parts (at least two weeks before strawberries), are blueberry-like in flavour and are exceptionally hardy. Honeyberries don't like wet soil (note to self: don't plant near the bulrushes) and require two varieties for pollination.
• Saskatoons (2) - the fruit is small and purple and ripens in early summer. They are extremely winter-hardy and are self-fertile but do better in groups. I love how they're described on the OMAFRA site: "saskatoons are a mystery to most people from eastern Canada. Just mention this fruit in the company of a native of the prairies and their heart goes all a flutter..." What can I say? Whenever Dad gets talking about his childhood on the farm in Saskatchewan, he reminisces about the saskatoons. And I'm a sucker for pioneer talk.
• Purple Passion Apple (1) - a red fleshed apple. I'm sure there's lots more to say but I left my notes at work and can't come up with anything else off the top of my head.
  

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Ken, at Windmill Point Farm also let me know about a couple of workshops that he will be putting on in this area in April. Andy is going to let me know the details as they become available. I'd attach the workshop topics...how the heck do you attach a Word doc? Here, let's do it this way...


This is so exciting. If any of you backward people are interested, I can keep you posted on time and date.

~Liz