Today in the orchard
Ancient apple tree, Brooksville, Maine, May 20, 2025
Skylar and I took a trip to the Blue Hill Peninsula and Verona Island, both in Hancock County, to see old trees. We were not disappointed. In Brooksville we visited Dan and Leslie Paul who showed us several old, unidentified trees dating from the early 20th century, as well as one that looks to be two hundred years old. That tree is among the oldest I’ve seen in Maine and could be of important historic interest. The site is very close to Castine. We took leaves and will submit them for DNA profiling. I’ll also obtain fruit from the tree in the fall.
We then went to Verona Island and met with Ron and Jeanne Russell and two reporters from Maine Public Radio. We toured the Russell’s assortment of ancient apple trees paying particular attention to the Drap d’Or de Bretagne, one of the most important apple trees discovered in Maine.
On the farm the Asian pears have now dropped their flowers, as have the plums. The early blooming apples are dropping petals too, while most varieties are entering full bloom. The late bloomers are just beginning to leaf out. So far the bloom is one of the best in memory. The temperatures are cold, but the clouds and rain have kept it above freezing.
