Today in the orchard
I spent several hours staring at apples at the dining room table. Although the weather is begging me to be outdoors, the bags of apples are building up and they’re threatening to bury me. Besides that I’m finding some really interesting apples, and I need to spend time observing, photographing and describing them. (And tasting them!)
Today’s featured apple is one that was given to me not this year but, incredibly enough, a year ago. It came from Jean Balamuth in Alstead NH. As I was going through the boxes in the basement, I found it. It has been in cold storage for eleven and a half months and still looks great!
From an email dated November, 2024:
“ I believe all of mine are seedling trees… Here is the first tree I'd like help with. The apples are late, small and deep red. I've labeled it "Late Red". Three trunks in there. The biggest measures 34" around. I would guess 20 ft tall.”
I was in touch with Jean today. She'll send me scionwood this winter, and we'll trial it in our research orchard. She has now named it, "Francis Sutherland."