So goes the old saying. Right now, we are at the peak of apple blossom season. Across the countryside, white and pink blooms are bursting into view — and this year, they seem especially abundant.
There is something almost magical about apple blossom: it is essential for fruit to develop, yet there’s no way of knowing how many flowers will set fruit or what the harvest will be like. Many apple varieties depend on pollen from other varieties, carried from blossom to blossom — often between different trees — largely thanks to bees.
A great deal of work has been done in recent years, and we now have a good understanding of cross-pollination compatibility and flowering periods between varieties. This knowledge allows for better planning of new orchards, selecting the right mix of apple trees.
Even so, nature follows its own rhythm. Apple trees tend to bear fruit in a biennial cycle: a more abundant year followed by a lighter one. Efforts are underway to balance yields, but the natural cycle remains. Although last year was considered an apple year, the harvest fell short of expectations, which may mean a more generous crop this year.
In addition, the winter brought enough cold days to properly prepare the trees for a strong bloom — and the bees for pollination.
The coming days will be crucial for the new harvest, and a true delight for the eyes.
