Grafting and Blossoms

Joy making a diagonal cut in the scion wood (the dormant wood from the existing tree that you want to replicate).

Scion wood bundles

The rootstock end has already been cut

And here they are--don't they look fragile? We taped tightly over the grafts to help press the layers together. The green goo on the end helps prevent moisture loss.

Miraculous! Green growth above the graft.

Pear tree at the end in full bloom, ahead of the young apple trees

Bob calls this the "red balloon" stage, when the buds are full and round. I think these pictured may be just shy of red balloon

A row of blossoming apple trees. The buds are set in the previous summer, so your apple is actually over a year in the making. Amazing, right?

The sepal-like green bit behind the blossom is the calyx. And the slight swelling between calyx and stem? Your future apple. The calyx remains through the process- it's that little bit of stuff in the bottom cleft of the apple.

I think this is a pear blossom.