Beautiful Blossoms

I saw the robins in springtime

As dawn came shining through.

I was awaken, by their presence,

As the earth soaked up the dew.

I saw the first apple blossom,

When dawn turned into day.

I was walking in my garden

That brightened up my way.

I saw a beauty in my pathway,

As the day drew to a close.

Oh! What a beautiful sunset,

Painted blue, gold and rose.

A sunset, of a busy day so fine,

It filled my heart with gladness.

When robins come back again,

I know it’s apple blossom time.

-Grace R. Baldwin

In May Sunset Orchard’s mantle of pink peach blossoms, slowly changes to white with the opening of the apple blossoms. The crab apple trees are the first to bloom and have the longest bloom time. Because of its extended bloom time, the crab apple tree is a continual food source for the bumble bees, mason bees and honey bees.

Pollination, is extremely important for the production of a successful fruit harvest. Peach trees are self pollinating, but apple trees require the help of the wind, birds and beneficial insects, such as the bees, to distribute the pollen from tree to tree.

Crab apple trees are excellent pollinators. They are so effective at pollinating other apple varieties, that our forefathers would snip blooming branches from a crab apple tree and place them in a pail of water. The pail would be set out in the middle of their orchard, allowing the bees to easily spread pollen from the crab apple blossoms to the apple tree blossoms, ensuring good pollination and improving the fruit set.

Did you know that the only apple native to North America is the crab apple?