Apple porn and Bear damage

It's a long time till fall and  a lot can happen, but it looks like I'll be tasting some apples this fall.

Liberty, a modern disease resistant apple.

 

 

 



Galarina, another modern disease resistant apple bred in France.

 

 

Antonovka a winter hardy Russian apple used mostly for cooking.

 

 

An Eastman Sweet. A heirloom variety from New England.

 

 

Tolman Sweet, another very old New England variety.

 

 

Not an apple but a pear, a Seckel pear also know as a Sugar pear for it's sweet flesh. This tree is located at the far end of the Back40. Last year it was loaded with fruit, but the coon wiped it out in one night and I didn't get a chance to taste any.  I'm hoping this year won't be a repeat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

A crabapple named All Winter Hangover.

 

 

Ashmead Kernel. An ancient English variety. A Dr. Ashmead planted a seed in the early 1700's that grew into this apple.  Being able to replicate old varieties like this is why I love to graft.

 

Enough of the apples, now on to the bear damage. I've had bear tear up two bird boxes so far this year. The first box held a single Tree Swallow fledgling one day. The next morning this is what I found. Hopefully the fledgling had flown before the bear found the box. All the feathers on the ground are ones which the Tree Swallows use to line the nest. I replaced the hinge on the top and am able to use the box again.

 

 

The next box that the bear damaged is beyond repair, but the saddest part is it held a nest of Chickadees. Just another example of Mother Nature being a mean bitch. :(