TODAY IN THE ORCHARD
Cubbyhole Wow, possibly Walbridge, 10/03/2024
Today I spent much of the day doing apple ID’s. There is a backlog! I spent more time with the apple Todd Little-Siebold found on North Haven Island on 09/28/2024. I like the phenotypic match with Bussey’s description of Walbridge. I'm especially drawn to the distinctive stripes which make sense since Walbridge was once known as Redstreak. It’s almost as distinctive as St. Lawrence. As far as hardiness, North Haven Island is in Penobscot Bay which is milder than many parts of the state. This fits with Bradford’s statement that Walbridge is not hardy. I have offered to do a presentation of the apple later this fall to the working group. Todd left a dozen or so apples with me, and I still have 8 of them to identify.
Later I collected several varieties from the Finley Lane orchard that are now ripe, including the French bitter-sweet cider apple, Launette, and the English sharp, Skyrmes Kernel. I also picked the remaining Norton Greening which I’ve been making into an excellent sauce. I’ve become very enamored with Norton Greening