The gnarly, twisting trunks and limbs that create the dense canopy of old crabapple trees are exposed in winter. It seems almost indecent to peek through what were once thickly flowered summer robes and see the arthritic-looking parts of aged bodies. But, it’s intriguing.
Some researchers say that the name “crabapple” may be derived from the density of the tree’s crown, which is “crabbed” with branches and small apples in the summer. Crabapples, which usually are too sour to eat without processing, are one of the ancestors of the cultivated apples that we eat off the limb.
Today, there apparently are few truly wild crabapple trees. Most are cultivated for special purposes, often for the decorative appearance of their flowers and the pollination of the bees that they attract to their areas. (Images taken in Brooklin, Maine, on February 12, 2023.)