Apple Trees & More

I bought us 2 apple trees today for $12.99 each. Neither was Vlad and my favorite, Granny Smith but we do both enjoy what I got. Bella doesn't really care what variety apple she eats. In fact I believe she'd prefer a fresh cat turd over any type. Anyway I got 1 Fuji and 1 Honeycrisp. I should have them planted by tomorrow.

Also my mom used to manage a small property that has a plum tree on it. I tried several times to root cuttings off of it to no success. I took what had been planned as my last attempt several months ago and truthfully forgot about them in a jug of water on the back deck. Lo and behold the day before yesterday I noticed a white flower on one of the 2 cuttings and upon closer inspection saw the pair were putting forth leaf buds. I stopped by the site of the mother tree today and took 3 more cuttings to put in the water jug when I  put the previous pair in pots of soil. Mom said the original tree bore yellow plums about the size of ping pong balls.

I've heard the local plant expert on radio say when planting fruit trees from pots it's best to trim the branches rather aggressively. I'll take him at his word and naturally put the trimmings in water and see can I get any new sprouts from them. If only 1 lives I see that as 3 trees for the price of 2.

It shouldn't be too much longer here until the native trees begin putting on leaves so I'll be hitting the woods searching for sassafras and any other that catches my fancy. I've told my dad I want some native persimmon trees and huckleberry bushes from his land up in Montgomery County so hopefully come Spring I'll be having 1 or 2 and at least 4 respectively.

That reminds me, way back in the day when I was just a wee snot gobbler Paw Stuart & Maw Claire had an apple orchard across the creek. The apples were more or less wild, rather small, green when ripe, not the fancy varieties we have now. Last time I was up there I didn't see much evidence of apple trees but should I see any I'll fetch one of them back to my orchard as well.