crab apple

This little crab apple is about the height of my hand. Blossom is very fragrant this year.

Sweet! Lovely little tree!

'Sweet' was the first response for me too.

love this tree!!!! I have a stump i am waiting to bud...good work take care john

Thanks guys. I tried eating one of the apples once - believe me, 'sweet' is not the right word

This was the tree recently. I find the apples go rotten and drop before the leaves do - is there any way to prevent that or is it just the natural course of events? I've seen other (wild) crabs covered in apples without any leaves.

Tom

Each individual apple has its own chromasome characteristics, unless it's a clone. Some can carry fruit well into winter, others drop, or rot. Apples are a fascinating subject, worthy of further research. "The Botany of Desire" by Michael Pollan is a good place to start.

Inquire at a farm supply store. There are all sorts of hormone sprays for fruit trees. Ask about one that will cause the fruit to hang on.
Iris

Thanks for the info, Kev and Iris. Maybe next year I'll go down the farm shop and try to rebel against the tyranny of genetics
Tom

I will post again ,,how very good the trunk on your tree is !! where does every one find such great trunks on such short trees ?? very nice flowers and fruit...good job take care john

Kev Bailey wrote: "The Botany of Desire" by Michael Pollan is a good place to start.

Concur, excellent book.
Who knew with Johnny Appleseed's place in pantheon of American folklore that he was merely a land developer, albeit a highly eccentric one.

Cute bonsai BTW. How about a nicer pot - maybe smaller and with a color to complement the red apples- i.e dark blue.

Rob, speaking of excelent books...have you written any forwards for one lately?

Hi Tom,

Friend of mine used to make mini toffee apples at Christmas using the crabapples from his bonsai. Same variety as yours by the look of it - Hime-ringo right?
He stuck the apples on cocktail ticks and dipped them in caramel, let them dry and there you go!

Great little tree by the way. Try it in a dull matte yellow pot.

Regards
Peter Adams

First off, sorry for the delay in replying to these posts - I've been offline for a bit. Thanks to all who commented.

John, the tree came from a bonsai nursery local to me (Windybank for those in the UK who know it) and I believe it was originally imported from Japan. I've not done much more than maintain it. A picture of the tree as purchased in 2005 is below.


Rob, I agree the pot could be smaller - I have a tendency to overpot things for horticultural reasons. I don't have plans to change it at the moment, but if I do I'll bear that in mind. I like the colour of the current pot (the grey one, not the one shown in this post) as it blends well with the trunk and 'gets out of the way', but other combinations might well be better.

Peter, thanks for the comment. I don't actually know what variety it is, so I'll take your word for it! Incidentally, I've been maintaining the tree according to the guidance in a book titled "The Art of Flowering Bonsai" by Peter Adams...

Tom

My pleasure Tom!!

Peter Adams

dick benbow wrote:Rob, speaking of excelent books...have you written any forwards for one lately?

Yes and I highly recommend it. "Penjing: The Chinese Art of Bonsai: A Pictorial Exploration of Its History, Aesthetics, Styles and Preservation" by Zhao Qingquan, commonly called Brook Zhao in the USA. Sheds some interesting light on the history and nature of penjing.