Safe and Sound and Planted

I left work a little early today, picked up Nolie from daycare and rushed home. Today was the day our new fruit trees arrived. Into the house we went, quick hellos to all and then Riley and I went to Andy's to pick up the treasure. Honeyberries. Saskatoons. And chums. We chatted a bit and then home we came.

Riley disappeared into the house for a quick bite before heading out to Kaitlin's and Paul and I gathered up a shovel, the watering can and some soil and went to work. The chums are planted along the driveway up near the road and the honeyberries and saskatoons are out back near the garden and other berry bushes. And they look mighty happy too. (Oh, I can tell.) Betcha when we see Dad on Friday, he shares a story about saskatoons.

Eat Your Landscape!

Today were the much anticipated Eat Your Landscape workshops in Mount Pleasant. Ken Taylor from Windmill Point Farm near Montréal was here at our friend, Andy's request to talk to us about the concept of permaculture, share his knowledge of northern cold-hardy fruit trees, berries and nuts and answer any questions we had. Ken is a passionate promoter of locally grown produce and food security and an absolute pleasure to listen to. Most recently, he wrote an article for COG, The Canadian Organic Grower.

We have an order in with Ken for this year and I'm now formulating in my little head a plan for next year. Like the Asian pear that he showed us called Kenko. Here it is April, and they are still firm and delicious for fresh eating. They actually become sweeter with time.

He also brought a bunch of shrivelled up seedless table grapes called Early Blue. Picked in late summer or early fall, they were still edible in January. This bunch had been placed in the crisper in the fridge and dried out. We all had a taste and they were the most delicious raisins I've ever had.

After lunch, I came home so Paul could head over for the afternoon grafting workshop. He grafted the roots of a seedling asian pear to a 'mother' branch of a Kikusui that is known to produce lots of crisp sweet fruit. Tonight, we planted it in the garden where we'll leave it for a year or so and then transplant it out to the yard. I leave you with these pictures of my boys, including the proud papa, planting the grafted pear tree...




(Never hurts to have a superhero helping out...)

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

Wealthy

A few years ago, I picked up a couple of apple trees at a nursery in Peterborough - an Imperial Gala and some type of Mac I think. I didn't know anything about them and, in retrospect, should have researched them first but I figured that if they're selling them here, they must be fine for this zone and our conditions. Then again, what do I know. The Mac had apples the first year but there's been nothing since. The Imperial Gala has never bloomed. I think the Mac's problems are my fault - I planted it too low on a hill. I suspect the late spring chills settle in the gully and are probably killing any buds that may be forming. There are other apple trees growing wild nearby so there shouldn't be a problem with cross-pollination and the tree itself is healthy. I have no idea what's going on with the Gala - probably the wrong zone. But, these failures haven't dampened my desire to have backyard apples.

A year or so ago, I googled heirloom apples in Canada. Jackpot. I found a place near Uxbridge called Siloam Orchards. They have an unbelievable number of trees available, many - actually most - of which I've never heard of before. Dorito and I were in the area last year after a trip to Richter's Herbs and decided to find the place. We picked up some early apples - a variety called Uncle Cecil - played with that black lab of theirs and talked to them about trees. And that was that. Until now.

(You might want to sit down for this part - it's very exciting.)

Two weeks ago I ordered trees...apple trees...well, apple sticks really. Four foot tall apple sticks. Paul and Nolie picked them up last week. Only got lost once, I'm told. And what did we get? Well, the pickins' were slim this time of year but I did manage to get my hands on one each of a Baxter, Duchess, Golden Sweet, Richelieu, Wealthy and Yellow Transparent. Ever heard of them? Me neither but I'm smiling as I write this.

On Saturday, as the kids turned into superheroes and fought all those bad guys in the snow, we planted them - a good ten to twelve feet apart and on the crest of a hill. They're all considered very winter hardy and I've chosen what I hope is a good spot to help them along. We'll see. Hopefully those nasty east winds don't get them. Or the deer for that matter. And we wait. A year or two. And hope for blooms. And then some apples.

And, hey, if you're out this way in the springtime and you see a tall chick jumping up and down on the crest of the hill, with a grin as wide as the sea, you'll know the apple blossoms are out. And make sure you stop in. 'Cause I'd love to show you my apple trees.

~Liz


(Duchess apple picture courtesy of Apple Journal.com; apple sticks picture courtesy of me, out the back)