Today in the orchard
John and Sarah Alexander, MOFGA’s Executive Director
The temperatures were in the 40’s throughout central Maine today. It was cold. Laura and I sprayed the stone fruit with Surround in the early morning. Surround is the refined clay powder that “bugs” the plum curculio, the nemesis of the stone fruit (and apples). It irritates them when they attack the tiny developing fruit, causing them to retreat back to the woods from where they reside in the winter.
The cold temperatures are concerning though their ultimate effect will remain to be seen. It has not been below freezing, just wet and cold. The bees—and the curculios for that matter—are mostly huddled in their sleeping bags. We hope to see the bees in a few days.
In the late afternoon we went to the Maine Heritage Orchard for a 10th Anniversary Blossom Celebration. I had the honor of giving a few “remarks.” It was inspiring to see so many friends and apple lovers show up to celebrate this milestone and to be recognized for helping to make the orchard a reality. A lot of people care.
