Today in the orchard
Two favorite crabapples, Red Jade (left) and Semi-weeping Red (right), May 17, 2025
Rainy and cool. Sunny and warm would be better for the apple pollination, but the cool temperatures mean less chance of the dreaded fire blight. I took the opportunity to go south for the day and attend the annual Wild Wine Fest at Wolf’s Neck Farm in Freeport. It’s down a long road that almost peters out completely before the picturesque farm and a lot of cars appear. The old barn was filled with wine makers and cider makers from near and far pouring tastes of their creations. A highlight was meeting Patrick Collins of Patois Cider in Charlottesville VA. His cider-making sounded right up my alley: very low intervention. And the cider was very good. It was a pleasure to see so many Maine cider-makers participating. But, what about the wine-makers? (I’ll try the wine some other time.)
Meanwhile on the farm the apple bloom is entering full swing. It is glorious this year, one of the best ever.
