How do you like them apples?

I have 3 apple trees in my yard, only one of which produced any fruit. And it made two apples, that is it! Well it is better than my pear, plum and apricot tree did this year. Since there was only two I wanted the kids to see them.

First we checked them out.

One was nicely shaped, while the other was craggy.

Janey went for the pretty one, but couldn't quite reach.

Go Momma help your girl!

Edgar latched right on!

He's got it!

Now inside Janey washed hers…

…while Edgar sniffed his!

They were both quite tasty, but a little small -- I sure love Fuji apples!

And now for the obligatory Good Will Hunting clip:

The best of both fruits

I was looking at my almond tree yesterday and contemplating that it is grafted on a peach root stock. I noticed that the fruit on the tree has two different looks - one just like a peach and the other smaller and more like an apricot.

Then I realized that a sucker from the root had grown to greater height than the almond! I have a tree that produces almonds and peaches! Now most people would want just the almond, but I am perfectly happy to have both! The also is the added bonus that the tree can cross pollinate itself!

The time to pick the peaches is when they easily separate from the tree. So it will be a day or two before I can enjoy them -- I cannot wait!

Can I eat that Almond?

About 3 years ago I purchased a bunch of trees from the Arbor Day Foundation. Most of these trees were fruit trees. One tree in particular was an almond tree.

When I planted this tree it was a tiny pathetic twig in the ground, but it has now grown to well over 12 feet tall and is absolutely covered with peach-like fruit. I am a total peach freak -- they are my favorite fruit -- so seeing this tree every day before and after work is quite tempting.

There is one big problem -- certain almond trees produce a cyanide containing chemical that when digested is converted to cyanide which can kill you!

I have spent quite a bit of time trying to find out if my tree was poisonous or not. I tried to contact the Arbor Day Foundation -- they have no question e-mail -- just a general question form that is broken! Argh! At least I was able to contact them via phone to found out that my tree is a Hall's Hardy Almond.

From what I can tell a Hall's Hardy Almond is a hybrid between a peach and an almond tree that is grafted on to peach root stock. It is safe to eat! So I look forward to eating my almonds! Now I need to figure out how to harvest them! I know you are supposed to let them stay on the tree until they split open, and then roast them. That is all I know so far.

I cannot wait for my wife to make some of her awesome almond butter using our home grown almonds!

• Almond - Wikipedia
• Hall's Hardy Almond - Arbor Day Foundation
• Hall's Hardy Almond - Willis Orchards (good info)
• Gardenweb Forum about Hall's Hardy Almond