As you may know, we monitor this arthritic old apple tree all year. In winter, we like to note how many apples she produces and how long she holds onto them. She’s apparently over 100 years old and extraordinarily tight-fisted. She’s been losing her fruit fast lately due to heavy rains, high winds, some light snow, and occasional freezing temperatures. Yet, as of Monday, she still was clutching five of her beloved progeny.
Of course, the remaining fruit are now in a such a puckered condition that only their mother tree could love them:
I doubt that any self-respecting deer would be tempted to try them. (Images taken on WoodenBoat campus in Brooklin, Maine, on December 9, 2024.)