So the two of us bought a house, one with a garden – a garden with an Apple tree!!! (And numerous other garden-orphins which I’ll introduce later)

Now neither of us would blatantly admit to being city-kids, but honestly, eventhough both of us grew up in houses with spacious gardens, neither of us have “Apple tree experience”.

This tree is an absolute beaut. He was planted in a very prominent spot in the backyard approximately 30 years ago and currently forms the primary focal point of our garden. He has the most beautiful network of branches, almost as if he was once a carefully pruned bonzai, cared for by a skilled gardener. I do know however that this gem has unfortunately not seen any care for a while and this was quite evident in a hand full of tiny little, sour, hard and severely insect-bitten apples we received from it’s previous owner. These were offered to our generally apple-loving two bunnies, who quite frankly also disapproved.

We spent the last few sunny summer days beneath it’s lovely greenage last year, feed our garden birds from a feeder hung from one of its arms and my son enjoyed a swing or two from these beauties as well. Winter sent it into a well-deserved rest and with the first indication of brighter sunshine my husband bravely took a few hardy pruning scissors to cut away last season’s remnants, crossed twigs and carefully removed mummied fruit. It truly looked like an entirely new tree…in a way radiating appreciation and confidence.

Spring has officially arrived in Germany with Tulips and Daffodils greeting the season, fruit trees started blooming, firstly the cherries, then or Zwetschke tree and finally the old Apple with its new attire started budding. I find myself peeping at it excitedly throughout the day, excited to see what it is capable of showcasing this year.

To my utmost pleasure, the most beautiful pink buds started popping up averywhere, a little more sunshine encouraged them to open up into gorgeous, large, white, sweet smelling blooms – a welcome invitation to bees, butterflies and a brand new, lusciously fruitful season.

I believe this old Apple has become a family favourite – we don’t know too much about each other yet, but I am so incredibly excited about its gracious existence in my garden!