This crabapple tree was planted twelve years ago. It is on the corner of our property and it's the first thing you see when you come to the stop sign. It catches the morning sun starting around 9 am, but by 11 am it is covered in shade for the remainder of the day. Over the years the tree has leaned in the direction of the sun and I feared that it was going to topple down. The root system opposite the lean was starting to upheave.
Losing this magnificent tree would have been a shame.
As the buds start to unfurl, the pink color is dominant, but the completely opened flowers will be white.
Without the tractor, it would have been impossible to right the ever-bending tree. By putting a chain on the tree I was able to straighten it out. While doing so I heard a few strange sounds, I think the sounds were some of the roots snapping as I stood it up.
After getting it upright I placed a large boulder behind the tree and braced off the front of the tree with a wooden support.
Despite the stress that the tree went through during my fix, a month later it was showing its appreciation as it exploded into full bloom.
I think my efforts were well worth the time. Talking about time, only time will tell if the crabapple will make it, so far so good, but it has yet to make it through another winter.
The Crabapple tree looks well and alive, I do hope it makes it through winter. It looks stunning! Do you eat the fruit?
We haven't eaten the fruit yet, but @joanstewart mentioned making applesauce using the crabapples, we may give that a try.
Display of your crabapple tree in flower is superb, happy to be straightened up after searching for the sun.
Should make some tasty apple sauce from these tasty little ones if they not eaten before you able to save some.
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I'm always surprised that when the flowers are totally in bloom they don't show even a hint of the pink that is dominant when they first start to bloom.
I've never thought of using the crabapples for applesauce, but the birds sure do love them.
Core them, remove skin, chop, I prefer applesauce not to be sweet, boil with some lemon or vinegar, salt and pepper to taste, now where is the pork? Some enjoy adding sugar with cinnamon as well.
My mom used to make applesauce every October. She would be at it for days making enough to last for much of the year. It was a process. With the size of the crabapples I could see it taking a lot longer.
Thanks for the recipe, I may give it a go.
We have Granny-smith apples grown in the Cape also October month (very versatile apple).
Dad would buy a box of which we were allowed to eat a fresh one, followed onto Multifunctional Manual Fruit Peeler Machine, coring tool, chopped up, bottled both sweet and savoury, Dad prepared most meals in the home, I learned from being the apprentice.
Sorry for the late reply, we've been on vacation at the Jersey Shore, Robin's favorite place. My mom would make lots of applesauce with my sisters. They would perform the entire process by hand, peeling coring, and slicing them. The entire process would take a few days, but boy was it delicious.
Sounds like you had a great escape to the coast. If your apple tree bears fruit now you know what you can do with them, small test run before going into full manufacture.
My aunts used to can crab apples with a lot of sugar and I would have it as a nice treat. The blossoms of these trees are so lovely.
I hope "Crabby" makes it.😌
You're the second person to mention canning these tiny apples. I had no idea that they were edible. I should have realized that, because the birds love them, picking the tree clean of everyone when they are ripe.
Actually there are different types of crab apples. The really tiny ones are pretty much ornamental but the ones I refer to ,are around the size of a large grape. You taste to see if they are sour. Those ones are worth canning. You may have the little ornamental ones though. The birds may be angry with you though.
Sorry for the late reply, we've been on vacation. They are the smaller ones, but the birds seem to enjoy them still.
If it has made it this far on only two hours of sun a day, I think it will make it. Maybe mulch it to be sure? It's a very pretty tree, with a lovely form. The rock looks great there, too.
The tree is in the shade much of the day. The Sugar Maple that stands right behind it is the culprit, but it is the best producing maple syrup sap producer on our property.
The rock behind the tree was placed there to hold down the roots that were heaving, but I agree, the rock does look pretty cool there.
They definitely show better gratitude than human. Does the flower smell well ?
Isn't that the truth. The flower has very little smell, but it sure does look beautiful.
That worth saving, and your work is being paid well by the tree. lovely bloom theygave as the appreciation. ; )
The crabapple tree sure did let me know that standing upright was a good thing to do as this year's bloom was one of the best in several years.
Nature repays us aplenty if we take the time to be kind her.
What a beautiful crab apple tree and fingers crossed it makes it through the winter, but if those blooms are anything to go by them it was a blooming success!
Nature does have a way of showing its appreciation. This year's bloom was better than anyone I can recall.
So far so good as the tree is looking great even after a very hot summer.
That is great to hear!
I love the use you are getting out of your tractor! What a brilliant investment it really was.
The crabapple said thank you in style!
Before getting the tractor, @farm-mom was wondering what I would do with it. Well, it has played a part in most things I do that in the past required so much manual labor.
The pallet forks that I got with the tractor are invaluable!
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So beautiful it looks . Your effort never goes waste.
It's nice when you make an effort and it pays off. That doesn't happen all of the time, but that shouldn't stop one from trying.
Wow! What beauty! A real bright spot in the middle of solid trees.
It sure does stand out among all of the other vegetation.
Mrs. Crabapple approves.
Nice work!✨
Mrs. Crabapple better approve, even if she doesn't show it.
She was still waking up...
I hope the tree can make it. It's such a beautiful tree with adorable flowers.♥️
If it makes it through this winter I think the tree will be good to go!
I need to do this with the peach tree. It’s leaning much too far southeast.