Bearing Fruit

The unseasonably warm weather and plenty of precipitation have been much appreciated by the orchard.  The heirloom fruit trees planted by the previous owners are bearing fruit.  We are not the only ones to benefit from the weather - Alabama’s peach crop is hitting the market several weeks earlier than normal.  As a baseline for future years, here are a few pictures of the various fruits taken May 14.

Apples

There are a number of apple trees in the orchard.  If all these apples make it to harvest then a fruit press and fermentation equipment may be in order.  Gallons of cider (as in Scrumpy) should result.  Another use for cider (besides the obvious) is to produce apple cider vinegar.  This is a useful folk remedy for just about anything that ails you – for both humans and the farm animals.  I remember drinking some rough scrumpy while at Bath University and can appreciate the medicinal qualities – it definitely made me sick.

Pears

While some of the apple varieties are doing better than others, all the pear trees are teaming with fruit.

  

Blackberries

These are growing like weeds all over the property.  I planted some additional heirloom varieties last fall that are already producing large berries.

Wild

Cherokee's planted last fall

Mulberries

This tree is in the front yard and was severely damaged by the April 27^th tornado last year.  It was touch and go whether it would make it.  Only half the tree is growing but the wonderful mulberries it produces are worth the eyesore.  The best way to collect the berries is to place a sheet or tarp on the ground under the tree and shake the various branches.  The berries fall out and you just pick them up.  Unfortunately, the squirrels have been jumping from tree to tree to avoid the dogs and they have already knocked a lot of the fruit out of the tree.

Blueberries

When the chickens were free-ranging in the orchard they helped themselves to the lower hanging blueberries.  As soon as these berries ripen and are picked, the Guinea Hogs will be let loose in the orchard to graze.

Muscadines

The muscadine bunches are still quite small on the established vines.  Some new vines were planted this year in what will eventually be the vineyard.  Last fall I remember seeing ripe muscadines all over and made a mental note to pick them.  The next day I went out with a bucket but could not find a single muscadine grape.  The birds and deer beat me to them.

Figs

Some new fig trees were planted earlier in the year beside the driveway up to the house.  There is an established tree in the orchard and an even larger fig tree outside of the house – this place was known as Fig Tree Farm after all!  There are hundreds of baby figs - looking forward to fig preserves later in the year.

So, with the snake from the last post, the apple beginning this post and finishing with the fig leaf - I am picking up on some definite Garden of Eden undertones here....