apple trees | Slim Paley

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Once upon a time, several years ago, some apple trees were planted on our property. These trees were a little special because they had been espaliered and successfully grown together in a very beautiful manner. Espaliered fruit trees are usually created against walls or on trellises but these babies stood unaided by any support.

*Espalier is the horticultural and ancient agricultural practice of controlling woody plant growth by pruning and tying branches so that they grow into a flat plane, frequently in formal patterns, against a structure such as a wall, fence, or trellis, and also plants which have been shaped in this way.^[1]. via Wikipedia

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This photo is several years old and shows them just about to lose their leaves.

Unfortunately, in order to make room for some changes in the garden, the trees had to be evicted.

The jury was divided (no pun intended) as to whether or not they could be separated and saved…but how could we not at least try??

The trees were dug up and put into huge boxes, 2 or 3 to a box, depending on where and how tightly they were holding hands. (those photos got eaten on my old hard-drive)

One season quickly turned to the next, and the next while they patiently waited to once again be thinking outside of the box.

Over two years passed (I told you I never do anything quickly) before we were finally able to reunite these comrades in arms

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Boy, were they happy to see each other!

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While the branches that had to be severed will probably not grow back together (but never say never) the trees are all back in terra firma and totally thriving.

and the apples are delicious!

I know I always say this but Mother Nature just never ceases to amaze me

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