::orchard dreams::

 
Right now this is what the orchard looks like.  
Two of the peach trees are on their second year with us.  We had peaches on them and we literally were fighting over who got to eat them.  Josh was obsessed with them and often won the prize.  The third peach tree got added this year from the clearance section at Walmart.  We had one plum tree from last year in, but the second one came to join it this year.  Because I love Lilac, but don't find the bush to be particularly pretty I grabbed one from clearance and threw it out there.  Sink or swim $2 plant.  

I was thrilled (seriously - I text Josh 50 !!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was cranked) to find a Fiji apple tree at Mennards - $26.  Pricey for me, but in the real world not too bad.  I grabbed him a Braeburn apple tree to be his friend.  Apple trees need a friend to cross pollinate with.  They need a mate that is no more than 100 feet from them.  They are kind of like a frat boy when it comes to who they will mate with - pretty much anyone with few exceptions.  Link here to read more about cross pollination.

What a cute little start this makes.  I feel love for these little trees.  They make me happy.  And like most little things I love - I want more.  I have been looking around and doing some thinking.  After all my little searching I have an idea.  I am too cheap to pay $25+ a tree to get my little orchard expanded.  The Arbor Day Foundation might be a good solution.  I can order just the dwarf varieties that I like and get them each for about $12.  Plus I am supporting a good cause at the same time.  

I think it is darn crazy that I don't have any raspberry bushes.  I plan to fix that next year too.  

Here is what I hope to expand to next year.



  
  

 And don't you think that little pond needs a duck house and some green ducks to fill it?