The Community Orchard
Our orchard has changed over the years. It has been tended by Picardo Gardeners since the early 1990s. We have plum trees, apples, kiwi, grapes, cherry, blueberries, and raspberries.
The Orchard Annex was created in 2018 from a Neighborhood Matching Fund Grant. It was envisioned by Hans-Karl Frautschi who sees people enjoying the shade of the fruit trees once mature. There are apple, peach, fig, mulberry tree, and various berries.
Join the team! For more information and to get involved contact:
Mike Hayes: mchayes2@yahoo.com
Peg Swartzman: pswartzman@comcast.net
Kiwis - Pat Totten: patinfr@gmail.com
Apple Varieties
Akane', also known as 'Tokyo Rose', 'Tohoku No.3' and 'Prime Red'
A Japanese cultivar of domesticated apple, and is one of the best early season apples. It' was developed by the Morika Experimental Station by crossing a Jonathan apple with a Worcester Pearmain and was introduced to the United States in 1937. The fruit keeps fresh for about one week.
York Imperial
In 1820, Quaker nurseryman Jonathan Jessop developed this variety of apple on his "Springwood Farm" near York, Pennsylvania. In the early 1850s, it was labeled this apple the “Imperial of Keepers” due to its excellent storage ability This cultivar has a tart yet sweet taste, and keeps extremely well, becoming sweeter and mellower-tasting over time.
Gala
Gala has a sweet, mild flavor, a crisp but not hard texture, and a striped or mottled orange or reddish appearance. Originating from New Zealand, in 2018, it surpassed Red Delicious as the apple cultivar with the highest production in the United States. It was the first time in over 50 years that any cultivar was produced more than Red Delicious (Wikipedia).
Yellow and Scarlet Sentinel
Growing next to the steps to the Picaloo, these columnar apple trees produce fruit on spurs along the main stem. They combine disease resistance, flavor, and ease of growing in small spaces. Both display a classic McIntosh-style crunch (Raintree Nursery).
Bramley’s Seedling
Commonly known as the Bramley, is an English cultivar of apple that is usually eaten cooked due to its sourness. The variety comes from a pip planted by Mary Ann Brailsford. The Concise Household Encyclopedia states, "Some people eat this apple raw in order to cleanse the palate, but Bramley's seedling is essentially the fruit for tart, pie, or dumpling."[2] Once cooked, however, it has a lighter flavor. A peculiarity of the variety is that when cooked it becomes golden and fluffy.
Macoun
Macoun is a cross between the McIntosh and Jersey Black cultivars. Sometimes pronounced either "Ma-coon" or "McCowan", this apple was developed at the NY state Ag Experiment Station and first introduced in 1932. Very good fresh, this apple is also popular for making European style apple pies because it does not break down during cooking and remains firm. The skin is a dark red with a purplish flush. Its very firm flesh is juicy and snow white, tasting sweet with a hint of berry.
Plum Varieties
Purple Gage
Purple Gage, is also called "Reine Claude Violette", for its sweet, dense, rich flavor and beautiful purple color. A freestone plum with a small pit, the tree is upright and productive. A great dessert plum (Raintree Nursery).
Comet of Kubansk
A unique cultivar from Krymsk, Russia. This cling stone plum has bright yellow, very sweet flesh. Kuban Comet is extremely hardy, so it thrives in cold climates. The self-fertile tree is very productive and easy to grow. 2 inch-long, yellow-orange fruits turn red when fully ripe in late July, and the tart skin resists cracks (Raintree Nursery)