Apple tree pics in the Back40

Some of my young apple trees in the Back40.

This is an Ashmeade Kernel apple tree planted in 2001. It's an English variety known as a superb eating apple.

This a Purdy Apple tree. Found growing wild in the Adirondack Mountains, it's a late season cooking apple.

 

 

This pic shows a limb graft growing nicely.

 

 

This pic show a graft with the tape off healing nicely. The brown "blob" is toilet bowl wax used to keep the graft from drying out until it's healed.

 

1st morning on the River

I chose the Raystown Branch of the Juniata River for my first fishing trip of the year.

 

I saw an eagle and a mink neither of which gave me a chance for a pic. The fishing was slow but I did manage to hook a couple of chunky 13 inch smallmouth.

 

It was a nice morning to be on the water.

 

Just Some New Thicket Pics

Haven't posted any Thicket pics for awhile, so here's some from this morning.

Barn Swallow Mystery

For as long as I can remember in my 61 years there has been dozens of pairs of Barn Swallows call this old barn home every summer. This morning only two pair came to feed off the insects that took to the air as I mowed the pasture. What tragedy could have occurred either on their migratory journey or in their winter nesting site? I can only hope that they will over time rebuild their population and continue to use this old barn for their summer nesting site as they have done for all these years.

Tree Swallows in the Back40

A Tree Swallow in the HogBack box keeping a close eye on me.

 

 

.  I'm always amazed at the feathers they find to line their nests.

A peek into the Plum Tree box shows these chicks growing quickly.

The Locust Field box. I only put this box up about a month ago and figured it wouldn't be used this year. I was wrong.

She had 3 eggs last Sunday. I need to check it today to see how many she has laid.

Last year was the first year that I had Tree Swallows nest on my land. This year I'm delighted to have 3 boxes being used by them in the Back40 and think that a pair are going to use a box in the Home Orchard soon.