ORCHARD NOTES: APPLE BLOSSOMS @ BELLEVUE ORCHARD
A favourite time of the year is the blossoming of the apple trees. Over the last few weeks, the buds across the orchard have added colour with pretty pink and white flowers bursting out. Spring is in the air, although a little damp and muddy with all the rain - gumboots sometimes required. Hints of the new blossom floral fragrance fill the air.
It's a rewarding time to see the bloom after the winter after the winter dormacy of our deciduous apple trees.
The orchard team over winter have been busy pruning trees, the thinning of trees allows more sunshine in the spring and summer, and removal of old wood promotes new growth. Older trees to be replaced are removed as part of the Orchard management plan, the ground is prepared for the planting of new trees, whilst planning and preparation is taking place for the warmer summer months.
Our apple blossoms don’t open all at once, even on the same tree, and the first to blossom are the Royal Gala and Fuji apple varieties. The colour of the blossoms range from white and pale pink to dark pink, and vary from apple variety. To become fruit the blossoms need to cross-pollinate, mainly pollinated by insects, the honey bees are the most important pollinators. The bees provide a critical service to the apple trees by transferring pollen from tree to tree.
We look forward to sharing our beautiful bee and blossom photographs, the next critical step in the production of our apples at Bellevue Orchard.
Our trees are in blossom! It's a beautiful vista as you come up the orchard driveway. Come on up to Bellevue Farm Gate and enjoy the blossom views from our alfresco dining at Farm Gate. Although they are very beautiful, please be mindful, the orchards are NOT open to walk around.
Whilst we're still open, our thoughts are with our industry and farming colleagues who have been impacted by the recent weather and flood events. Stay safe.
By the way, behind the scenes our Orchard team are working hard and we are looking to expand the Orchard team for 6-8 weeks. Check bellevueorchard.com.au for details.
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