Apple Blossom Time
1. Last May I hiked down into the abandoned orchard, where Joe and I pick apples in the fall, to see the trees in bloom. But because of a late freeze, there wasn’t a single a bloom on a single tree. Disappointed, I trudged back out of the valley knowing there wouldn’t be a single apple in the fall, and there wasn’t.
2. After seeing that the crabapple tree in our yard was in bloom, I knew it was time. We parked the truck on the Blue Ridge Parkway and hiked down to the orchard.
3. We were giddy with delight at what we found, a spectacular abundance of bloom. Where last year I felt life’s frailty, now I felt its fertility. How magical to think that every flower would be transformed into an apple -- winter food, pies, and crisp -- and that each seed from each piece of fruit could become another tree.
3. Our favorite tree at the bottom of the valley looked like a bride in gown of lacy white.
4. No charge for this affair. No planning. Nothing to buy. Free corsages for all the spring prom dresses, for the maidens and maids of honor, and the fairytale heroes and heroines.
5. We laid on our backs in the grass and watched a butterfly feasting on flower nectar. Bees buzzed, birds chirped, and with every gust of wind paper thin white petals, popped from fuchsia pink buds, drifted down on us.
6. Drinking in so much apple blossom aroma can be intoxicating. I thought about Sleeping beauty and Rip Van Winkle and remembered the time we set up camp on a beach in St. John and woke up in bed of jasmine. I drifted off, wondering if there would be an apple blossom hangover the next day.
Post note: Read The Romance of Wild Apples (the orchard in the fall) HERE.
Comments
It gives me hope that spring is here!
BTW, Michelle says hello!
Posted by: Teena in Toronto | May 4, 2008 12:23 AM
Amazing, isn't it! Each seed to become a tree...each bloom to become its fruit. Glad to hear things are looking fertile...
Posted by: June | May 4, 2008 6:44 AM
Colleen, Thanks for visiting my blog!
I finished high school in Winchester and went to the Apple Blossom Festival every year (marched in the parades, too for band), but I never got up close to the flowers to smell them. Now I'll have to get back over there sometime, and take my kids too, for the parades and a walk through an orchard.
Nick cuts my hair if I'm so lucky to afford it (although I don't have to pay the current rate, but the rate I first paid) at the moment, but he was booked (you need to call a month in advance) but his wife was available, so she cut my hair this time.
Posted by: anne | May 4, 2008 9:48 AM
They are such beautiful blossoms! I know you are giddy at the prospect of such wonderful pies, etc. to come.
Posted by: kenju | May 4, 2008 11:41 AM
I'm so happy to see that we should have a good apple (and peach) crop this year. I keenly felt the lapse in last year's crop because of that freeze.
Posted by: CountryDew | May 4, 2008 12:17 PM
Oh, thtay' an apple blossom hangover! Sounds rather plesant. Michele sent me today.
Posted by: Sarcasmom | May 4, 2008 2:52 PM
How gorgeous! Colleen, you really inspire me! You experience every little thing with such wild abandon. I wish to be more like you in that respect!!!!
Posted by: Sara | May 4, 2008 3:44 PM
Beautiful photos and words, Colleen. It takes me back to your magical area.
Posted by: ginnie | May 4, 2008 5:32 PM
you are truly the Apple blossom queen . I love all fruit blossoms actually and all fruits..miss that and wildflowers and lots of f resh vegetables
Posted by: sandy k | May 4, 2008 8:49 PM
its blossom time here at 7000 feet also
holding our breath against the threat of a late freeze.
Posted by: david, in Big Bear Lake | May 5, 2008 12:02 AM
I wish I could get intoxicated with you. ox
Posted by: Sherry | May 5, 2008 9:30 AM
I love this story and the first picture is just beautiful!
Posted by: Janet | May 5, 2008 3:37 PM
It's right up the road from my house.
There was a slight hangover related to pollen, I think.
Posted by: colleen | May 5, 2008 4:02 PM
I love apple blossums! There used to be perfume called that but I don't think it could ever come close to smelling like the real thing.
Posted by: ruth | May 5, 2008 5:21 PM
Colleen, I'm so glad you found your magic orchard in bloom this year. Here's to an autumn of sweet, crisp apples and warm apple cobbler right out of the oven...
Posted by: Beth | May 5, 2008 5:49 PM
This is so beautiful. We used to have a crabapple tree outside our bathroom window that marveled us every year - sadly, we had to take it down a couple months ago.
Thanks for sharing your wonderful adventure.
Posted by: On a Limb with Claudia | May 5, 2008 6:32 PM
I just blogged about Vetruvian man as my vision of retirement and here you and your husband are each doing a version of it!!
Posted by: Tabor | May 6, 2008 7:14 AM
I love this whole series of pictures, especially the one of you laying on the ground taking it all in!!
Posted by: inlandempiregirl | May 7, 2008 10:26 PM