The apple trees are all bursting with blossoms now -- a truly gorgeous sight. We have probably about two dozen apple trees in three different orchards on the property, all producing delicious fruit. The trees have been "let go" for at least a couple of decades and are in need of substantial pruning, and the result is that while we have lots of tasty apples in several varieties, the apples are on the small side compared to the commercial ones you can buy.
But my oh my, what a treat in late summer to walk by one of these trees, pick an apple off a branch, and enjoy! Whoever planted these orchards a long time ago planted enough varieties that mature at different times, so it's a rolling apple season for us. Alayne made loads of apple sauce last year, and we're hoping to learn how to make apple cider this year, time permitting.
Here's a close-up showing just how dense the apple blossoms are:
Of course, no one is happier about the apples than the horses, because several of the trees helpfully drop their fruits right into the horse paddocks:
We've pruned the branches back so they are out of the way of the blind horses, but still overhead so that come late summer, it's an apple-fest for them!
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Yes That is a great picture, but a word of caution, we used to raise horses and cattle and had several apple trees on the outside of the fences, then we enclosed the trees to have them on the legal line. We had raised both for years as my father before and didnt know that too many apples would cholic the horses and cause gastric blockage on the cows, so Im sure you already knew this but just in case.
Posted by: Vicki Rowe | May 25, 2011 at 08:58 PM
My, look at all those lovely apple trees. Beautiful pictures! The horses and goats (yes, we need an update on them) are going to be so happy soon!
Maybe you can hire a part-timer and get a new seasonal aspect of RDF going...fresh apple products (such as suggested by Shirley) straight from Rolling Dog Farm! I'd bet that would bring in a nice amount of money for the animals. After all, who doesn't love "fresh from the farm" apples? :)
Posted by: Ann | May 24, 2011 at 12:28 AM
You could do a fundraiser - donate a certain amount of $$, get a bushel of apples! :-)
Posted by: Heidi, Emmett the Beagle, and Moxie the kitty | May 23, 2011 at 07:44 PM
Try Apple Butter made in the crock pot. There are many recipes out there. And it is so easy. Just load up the crock pot and forget it.
Posted by: Sue | May 23, 2011 at 12:02 PM
Oh! Barb, good idea...Margaret update!! Yes we want an update on Margaret and the cows! Oh and the horses, with some new pictures of all the "Farm Yard" animals at RDF.
Posted by: Anne in FL | May 23, 2011 at 11:55 AM
I'm also got an older neglected orchard when I bought my property. Got so tired of pealing & coring those tiny apples. For my Apple Butter process, I just wash and cut them into chunks without pealing and coring, and bake them into mush in a big turkey roaster. Then I run them through the sieve attachment on my Kitchen Aid into the crock-pot to cook it down into the best Apple Butter you've ever tasted. The more varieties of apples the better. Add apple pie spice or ginger, whatever you like and a little brown sugar at the end. I then put it in jelly jars and can it, but it would freeze just as well. Ymmm on toast and waffles!!
Posted by: Diane Borden, Chehalis, WA | May 23, 2011 at 10:16 AM
How absolutely lovely! And what a treat they will be for your many horses.
Barbara & Frankie the Walk 'N Roll Dog
Posted by: Barbara Techel | May 23, 2011 at 09:19 AM
My grandparents were blessed with an orchard and we would go gather apples in the fall. All the kids would pick apples and the adults would use an old hand turned cider press to squeeze the apples into cider. I can still remember the taste of the FRESH apple cider. You are SO lucky! Oh, and it freezes well too, just so you know, if you have extra.
Posted by: Anne in FL | May 23, 2011 at 08:43 AM
Its the Rolling Apple Farm!!
Posted by: Hillary Buckley-Lawlor | May 23, 2011 at 07:26 AM
Beautiful,tasty and feeds the animals and humans.
A win-win all around...
that's great!!!
Posted by: Glenda | May 23, 2011 at 07:14 AM
Apple Cider, Apple Pie, Apple Dumplings, Apple Turnovers, Apple Fritters, Apple Upside Down Cake, Carmel Apples, Apple Muffins, Applesauce and let's not forget a fresh picked apple straight from the tree at RDF!!!
Posted by: Shirley * James/Portland, OR | May 23, 2011 at 02:31 AM
It's wonderful to have apple trees for the horses - and humans! But now Steve, we need an update on Margaret and her sister and we need to know how they're doing. Everyone wants to know, I'm sure. So photos and a blog, please! And thank you.
Posted by: Barb Ribinski | May 22, 2011 at 10:19 PM
What a gorgeous post!
Posted by: Moon Rani | May 22, 2011 at 10:15 PM
oooh, I'm putting my order in for an apple pie... or a cobbler... or a crisp.... or some fritters!
Posted by: Penny | May 22, 2011 at 09:30 PM
I'm so happy for you, having all those apple trees. My grandmother used to get apples from the farmers' market and make homemade applesauce. It was such a treat to eat some still hot before she put it up. The chunkier the better. Yum; I miss the good old days.
Posted by: Richard Blanc | May 22, 2011 at 09:01 PM