Pruning the fruit trees

Noticing the shift as spring gains momentum

This time of year always takes me a little by surprise. There I am, cocooning my way through winter, working on absorbing some of the lessons that season has to offer, about slowing down, following a different rhythm, turning inward…and suddenly it warms up a touch and crocuses are poking out of the ground. Little green shoots and the tiny first flowers are adding some color to the ground. And there are a host of things that need to be done to prepare the gardens and orchard for the seasonal shift in temperature.

This past week we worked on pruning the fruit trees - really taking a close look at how they did during the winter, admiring the new central leaders for an apple and a pear that we were hoping would establish themselves after losing other central leaders to some very strong winds during the last growing season. Taking down the height of a pear tree that was really reaching for the sky. Making note of last year’s volume of harvest and how it was a little more lackluster than we’d prefer. Brushing away some bark mulch that got a little too close to the tree trunks, which won’t do them any favors. Pruning the peach tree back into its beautiful bowl shape.

The peach tree is the one that I’m considering my biggest current challenge. Last year: hundreds of peaches. It was beautiful. We were carefully watching, waiting, putting crutches under the tree’s branches to support the weight of the fruit. I had plans to make every peach recipe under the sun, not to mention the vision of just plucking a peach off the tree and eating it in the sun. I was figuring we were almost at harvest time. And then I came out one morning: not a single peach. It was as if every peach had evaporated off of the tree. But not exactly, since there were peach pits scattered at the base of the tree and on top of the table on our patio, so we did see some (rude, to be honest) evidence of their enjoyment. I mean this very literally, that every single peach was gone. We didn’t have one. I am researching so I can refine this year - even one peach would be better than any year before, but if we could manage to share the harvest with the wildlife and also have enough for a sizable harvest for ourselves - that’s the dream.

I’ve gone off on a tangent. Back to the preparations necessary at this time of year. We did a soil test to check what amendments might be needed for the fruit trees, and for the blueberries. We’re thinking ahead about how to protect the fruit once it grows (not just for peaches, but for the apples, pears and berries - blueberries, raspberries, elderberries - as well.)

Every year we try something a little different, continuing to refine the process - it’s a process of imperfect exploration and while at times it can be frustrating, it was what we knew we were walking into when we began to cultivate a garden and orchard, and it’s a process we willingly signed up for. In many ways, it’s freeing to embrace the uncertainty of it all, because there isn’t really room for perfection. Even if we do everything that worked last year, this year the climate might be different, there might be different wildlife in the area - there are many factors outside of our control. So we keep learning, applying what we’ve learned, implementing small changes, and observing how they work.

I do want to mention at this point that I’m not doing any of this alone. The brilliant Jen Kettell of Radiant Leaf Consulting comes and guides me in what to do. I knew we’d need assistance when we embarked on this project, and Jen comes armed with incredible knowledge, a talent for education, enthusiasm and a sense of humor. All important qualities that benefit the orchard and my experience of learning to care for it.

I’m noticing that the way this particular blog has taken shape is indicative of my mindset at this time of year. I start off calmly and then feel a little topsy turvy as things speed up - I didn’t need to pay too much attention to the outside landscape for the last handful of months (beyond a boatload of shoveling - it was a bountiful and beautiful snowy winter), and I got used to not holding space for it. Now, as I look around, I’m filled with an energy of anticipation as well as responsibility. I’m looking forward to the flowers that will come back, and know that I need to get others in the ground pretty soon. The fruit trees are pruned, and I need to cut back the grasses so they’re tidied a bit before they start growing again. I wonder if the rhubarb really will grow this year, and want to take the straw off the top of our raised beds.

Every year I do my best to think a little further ahead to help my future self out in the heat of summer - and every year my view widens of things that could be done. I believe discernment is going to be my close friend this year, especially because I’m also wanting to make more time for play, and loosen my grip on responsibilities just a touch. It will be a dance and an ongoing exploration…and during it all, there might be peaches to eat! Please keep your fingers crossed for us.