Think in the Container for an Orchard

Several years ago I wanted my husband to have something he had wanted a long time - an orchard.

Now I like to garden and he liked an orchard.  Through the years our homes were never located in a good place to make that dream come true.  I had created our backyard into a huge patio.  Then I filled it with garden pots for veggies and flowers.  One day I said to myself - Why not an orchard.  I looked around and could not find anyone that had material on the subject.  Finally I told him - let's just do it anyway.

Wa La!  The beginning of a fun journey. 

Fortunately I decided we needed pictures of the adventure.  The result is this blog and the YouTube videos.  Each year in the Spring the number of people that watch the videos and follow the blog have increased.

Here is the first video.  You can find the others listed on the side bar.

Spring has sprung - consider a Potted Container Orchard for your backyard!  Judy

February Is Time to Look at Planting a Potted Orchard

Radom Pictures of the Fall Garden

Here are a few random pictures of the Fall Garden.



It is the middle of October. The apples are getting ripe.

The rest of the garden is settling in for a long winter's nap.

I will miss the warm sunny days of the summer. 

Yet I am already thinking of Spring.  Judy

Fall in the Orchard and Small Garden

 Good Morning to all!

Fall is here in the Puget Sound Region.

  The Cows are enjoying the morning mist fog here.  You might enjoy a previous post about them.  Pastoral Life at Its Best in a Small Garden!

APPLE PICKING

We checked the apples this am again to see
if more were ready.

GRAPE PICKING

The last of the grapes need picking before the critter that has been enjoying them as well eats the last of them. We finally added the netting but he/she still found away around it. 

 

Blueberries and Roses 

     The Blueberries and Roses are still giving a wonderful display and tasty food.

IN THE DARK

Our grandson keeps wanting to play outside in the dark.

We have street lights that help.  All of the other children are inside.  He just needs to be outside though. As I walk around him letting him play, he just cannot let go of summer.  

He wants the sunshine and the fun with friends playing outside.  A neighbor got out of her car and as she walked to her door I said - He just can't let summer go.  She said - All of us wish it would linger longer.  Fortunately he has Halloween to look forward to!

Climate change or just a natural cycle, Western Washington State

did not get the long warm  lingering fall.  Rain and cool weather arrived early. 

Going to enjoy the fall day anyway! Judy



Antique and Ancient Apples Are Coming Into Vogue!

Since we have enjoyed our "Container Orchard" I thought I would share something interesting that is happening in the commercial apple business.  Antique and ancient apple varieties are coming into their own.  Here is a great article on the subject. 

http://www.foxnews.com/leisure/2011/09/07/antique-apples-getting-new-life/

Enjoy!  Judy

Close Up of the Fruit - Cherries, Apples, Pear, Blue Berries and Grapes in the Container Potted Orchard

Cherries

Apples



Pear







Blue Berries

 The fruit is growing every day.





















Grapes are Growing as well!

It is fun watching a Container Potted Orchard Grow!  Judy

2nd Year (2010) Potted Fruit Tree Orchard in Contain Gardening

Finally you will find the YouTube Video of the 2nd year of the container garden potted fruit tree orchard. See it on the left column under YouTube Videos.

Enjoy! Judy

Dormant Spray for the Potted Orchard

Yesterday my husband was finally able to get the dormant spray on the fruit trees. He has been trying for the last week. It seemed between the sprayer not working and the rain something kept stopping him. We do not use insecticide spray on the trees. Last year we had a good harvest with several pears. This year we plan to pollinate them from a tree in the area that is a old farm pear tree. This way we would get the same or better results from the 1st year. We tried not pollinating last year the the "crop" was low.

Here are some pics of the potted garden as of today:

Early Blueberry -

Columnar Apple Tree -

Bartlett Pear Tree

Enjoy! Judy

Orchard in Pots - July Pictures

Apples -

It seemed updated pictures of the Sustainable Orchard in Pots would be in order.

We are not a large orchard but it sure has been fun!!!





Picked the Cherries on July 4th.

Pears -

Enjoy! Judy

Babysitting Apple Trees

Two Cute Trees!

My son and son-in-law are turning their patio on a 4th floor building in Seattle into a beautiful Sustainability Garden. They are having fun planting tomatoes, carrots, beans, lettuce, etc. They wanted the fun of apple trees sooooo....my husband, who had shared [bragged] about our apple trees, went to the same farm store and purchased 2 trees for them. Because we live an hour out of Seattle in good traffic and we took a trip to Maui, the trees are enjoying the sunshine and rain of our patio. Next week they get to go to their new home in Seattle. They will get bigger pots at that time.

Here are pictures of the tags. We have these varieties growing in our orchard in pots as well.

Enjoy! Judy