Apple Crops - a short story: First photo taken in April. The rest are from today. Most commercial orchards have gone to trellis-style, but there are a few of the "old time" trees still...

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

First photo taken in April. The rest are from today. Most commercial orchards have gone to trellis-style, but there are a few of the "old time" trees still around. I titled as "short story" because I don't have any shots of apples being picked nor transported. It's hard to stay out of their way + not everyone is enthusiastic about being photographed.

Constructive feedback welcomed.

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jaymatt Loc: Alexandria, Indiana

These are most interesting photos, Linda. I have never heard of nor seen trellis-style growing. I learn something new every day . . . .

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

jaymatt wrote:

These are most interesting photos, Linda. I have never heard of nor seen trellis-style growing. I learn something new every day . . . .

Thank you very much, John! I was pretty disappointed the first few years I witnessed older trees being replace with this system. But now they're "normal" and I look at them for lines and patterns, like I do the hops gear. Ripe red apples are a bonus

AzPicLady Loc: Behind the camera!

As one afraid of ladders, those ladders look exceptionally scary! The symmetry in the second image is really nice. I, too, was totally unaware that the design of the trees had been changed. I guess it does probably make for easier picking, but being a traditionalist, I think God's design might still be better. Nice pictures, all.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

AzPicLady wrote:

As one afraid of ladders, those ladders look exceptionally scary! The symmetry in the second image is really nice. I, too, was totally unaware that the design of the trees had been changed. I guess it does probably make for easier picking, but being a traditionalist, I think God's design might still be better. Nice pictures, all.

Thank you very much, Kathy!

These are commercial enterprises. The design is for increasing yield and reducing labor. That equals more profits and - hopefully - less cost to us in the stores.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Those smaller trees in the various trellis systems are created by grafting a branch (or bud) from the desired variety onto what is called "dwarfing root stock." Not only is the yield greater per acre, the harvest easier, but the trees come into bearing much earlier than standard trees, as well.

We are about 20 years into the dwarf tree revolution here and just about all of the old trees are gone. There were some giants. They were beautiful.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Blenheim Orange wrote:

Those smaller trees in the various trellis systems are created by grafting a branch (or bud) from the desired variety onto what is called "dwarfing root stock." Not only is the yield greater per acre, the harvest easier, but the trees come into bearing much earlier than standard trees, as well.

We are about 20 years into the dwarf tree revolution here and just about all of the old trees are gone. There were some giants. They were beautiful.

Thanks very much, Mike. I always appreciate your sharing knowledge of agriculture and the natural world, also.

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Linda From Maine wrote:

Thanks very much, Mike. I always appreciate your sharing knowledge of agriculture and the natural world, also.

Good images. They bring back good memories of my visits to the Yakima area. The 40 bushel boxes are always picturesque. But plywood?? We used to build them with oak planks.

JD750 Loc: SoCal

By the title I was thinking it was editing on an iPhone. LOL.

These photos are much more interesting than that. Lots of repeating patterns! ;)

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

Blenheim Orange wrote:

Good images. They bring back good memories of my visits to the Yakima area. The 40 bushel boxes are always picturesque. But plywood?? We used to build them with oak planks.

And what about those aluminum ladders?

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

JD750 wrote:

By the title I was thinking it was editing on an iPhone. LOL.

These photos are much more interesting than that. Lots of repeating patterns! ;)

Thanks, JD. I do enjoy lines, angles and patterns

Blenheim Orange Loc: Michigan

Linda From Maine wrote:

And what about those aluminum ladders?

Yeah. We went to those a while back.

NJFrank Loc: New Jersey

Growing up we had a peach and apple tree in our backyard. These trees certainly don’t look like the one I grew up with. Interesting story and photos. The first and last ones are what comes to mind with apple picking. I guess your second and third shots are what the future holds.

Linda From Maine Loc: Yakima, Washington

NJFrank wrote:

Growing up we had a peach and apple tree in our backyard. These trees certainly don’t look like the one I grew up with. Interesting story and photos. The first and last ones are what comes to mind with apple picking. I guess your second and third shots are what the future holds.

Thanks very much for your comments, Frank.

ebrunner Loc: New Jersey Shore

Linda From Maine wrote:

First photo taken in April. The rest are from today. Most commercial orchards have gone to trellis-style, but there are a few of the "old time" trees still around. I titled as "short story" because I don't have any shots of apples being picked nor transported. It's hard to stay out of their way + not everyone is enthusiastic about being photographed.

Constructive feedback welcomed.

I've never seen the trellis type of orchard. It makes sense and it is another one of your good sets that give us a glimpse of where you live and what goes on there. These sets always grab my attention and are very enjoyable.
Erich