Category Archives: General Update

2016 Season Has Started!

Posted on August 10, 2016 by Patty Doll

Peaches have been the main focus in the orchard for the past three weeks.  We have finished picking several of the early varieties and now are picking Canadian Harmony and Harold’s Beauty.  Next week the Madison will be picked.  This … Continue reading →

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New Orchard Update: Development of Pick Your Own!

Posted on July 16, 2016 by Patty Doll

The past several weeks have been spent “maintaining” the orchards.  The fruit continues its development and with ample rainfall the apples are peaches are increasing in size.  Rainfall has been more than “ample” but after suffering through a drought several … Continue reading →

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2016 Bloom

Posted on May 14, 2016 by Patty Doll

We have bloom and what a magnificent display of beauty in the orchard!  Breathtaking, really.  The apple orchard was in full bloom 10 days ago and the peach orchard the week before.  The peaches were impacted by the cold temperatures of … Continue reading →

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Pruning is Finished, Waiting on Bloom!

Posted on April 17, 2016 by Patty Doll

Pruning is now finished for another season.  What a great feeling!  We are now in the last stages of orchard cleanup.  The prunings have all been mulched with the flail mower/mulcher and the grandchildren have done a final sweep to gather anything … Continue reading →

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February 2016 Update: Pruning, Pruning, Pruning

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Patty Doll

What’s been happening at the orchard?  Well, that’s simple to answer, pruning, pruning and more pruning.  We have finished pruning the apple trees and at this point of the process, we are most happy about that achievement.  Our next endeavor … Continue reading →

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Winter Pruning and Conferences 2016

Posted on January 28, 2016 by Patty Doll

Winter pruning has now taken precedence in the orchard.  The apple trees are now fully acclimated to tolerate cold temperatures as they have been exposed to freezing temperatures for several weeks.  We perform most of our maintenance pruning while the trees … Continue reading →

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Happy New Year! Winter Update….

Posted on January 9, 2016 by Patty Doll

 A new year has begun on the calendar and also in the orchard.  The unseasonable temperatures of late November through mid-December here in the Midwest have put some kinks in the winter work schedule.  Not only is pruning on hold but … Continue reading →

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Harvest 2015 has been completed!

Posted on November 15, 2015 by Patty Doll

Another harvest is complete.  We’ve finished picking the last of the “late” apples in the orchard, that being the Gold Rush and Black Twig Winesap.  Both of these varieties are unique in their textures and tastes.  Every season has its … Continue reading →

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Early October ’15 Update

Posted on October 10, 2015 by Patty Doll

Harvest is proceeding at a fast pace.  We have finished picking several varieties and have begun to pick Winesaps this past week.  As we harvest Chespeakes, we will also continue to pick our Yellow Delicious. The variety of Yellow Delicious in … Continue reading →

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2015 Bloom is Here!

Posted on April 26, 2015 by Patty Doll

Right on schedule, the orchard is in full bloom this week.  Typically, the third week of April, usually around the 25th of the month, the orchard bursts with fruit blossoms.  Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful is the only way to describe it.  … Continue reading →

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