Whatever

Good starting point……

How’d you meet him?

 

Last year's Copper River trip:

 

Cold!!!!!!!

 

I don't know what field he works in, but I know he works from home full time now.

We met years ago actually at a mutual friend's house to watch a ravens game. Just sorta been online acquaintances, so I'm real curious what prompted him go ask me out now. Is that an OK question to ask?

 

Yeah, me too

I don't mind that I don't have to mow the lawn.
But I have 6 young apple trees that have to be watered daily.
(I cut down my old, decrepit apple trees 2 years ago.)

I planted 5 last year: 2 Gala (everybody knows what those are), 1 Cortland (older variety)...
... 1 Empire (a Red Delicious/ McIntosh cross), and 1 Blondee (a "sport" or spontaneous mutation of Gala).

I added a Fuji this Spring.

which reminds me...


Gritto Talks Apples

Most people don't know that this is big apple growing country, all along both sides of South Mountain.
(South Mountain is the local name for that portion of the Blue Ridge that's north of Harper's Ferry, WV).
Hilly country or the lower elevations of a mountain ridge are good locations for apples.
Late frosts are less likely to kill the blossoms when the trees are a few hundred feet above the Valley floor.
(The "Valley" being the Cumberland Valley, the northern extension of Shenandoah Valley).
Plus, that's land less suitable for other types of agriculture anyway.

For years I've wanted to locate Astrakhan variety to plant.
We had Astrakhans on the farm.
It's a very very old heirloom Russian variety... light, crispy, very sweet and very tart at the same time.
But they don't keep well, so they're pretty much only grown by backyard gardeners for personal consumption.
I finally located a nursery in New England that sells them... $50 bucks for a little sapling thinner than your pinky (plus shipping and handling)
Maybe next year...

 

Hmmm…. Have you 2 been chatting or is this out of the blue?

 

We have 2 apples, a nectarine and a plum.

There was new variety down at Rinehart's this year. It was tart and I really liked it. I can't remember the name now. I tried the blondee too. We tend to get the fujis and jonagolds.

 

You writing a book?

 

Its outa the blue. I mean we've had a little conversation over the years and he's following my woodwork online, but I was pretty surprised.

 

Why, whoever do you mean?

 

Hell no!!


Trying to give her the best answer to her question, I need more info before I know

 

https://www.treesofantiquity.com/products/red-astrachan-apple

July 1st reserve

 

If you 2 had been chatting then the reason is obvious.

I think the reason is still pretty clear, or he wouldn’t have asked you, but I get why you’d be curious…..maybe see where the convo goes and let it play out a lil bit first. I think you’ll know if/when the right time would present itself for you to ask.

 

Yeah ... this is Alaska.

 

That's the one... and it appears my spelling of it was wrong
Anyway...
Supposedly, it's fairly close to the original apple tree from the Fergana Valley in Central Asia.

The ones we couldn't eat got turned into cider or apple butter.
Best apple ever for eating fresh or in apple pie.
But they just don't keep.

 

So he's gonna take you to Red Run Park, a short downhill walk from my house.
We got Bluegrass bands there every Sunday all Summer.


See you there