Imagine buying a densely-forested acreage, beginning to remove invasive species to create walking trails, only to discover the lost orchard of Victorian-era, heritage apple trees hidden among the trees...that's the beginning of this fairy-tale-like adventure that I am thrilled to share with you.
Imagine buying a densely-forested acreage, beginning to remove invasive brush and trees to create walking trails, only to discover a lost orchard of massive, Victorian-era, heritage apple trees hidden among the forest...that's the beginning of this fairy-tale-like adventure that I am thrilled to…
The majesty of the Empress is unmistakable. This towering apple tree dwarfs the others, as you can see from the two-storey barn in the background and the 12-foot ladder that barely reaches the lower branches of this striking tree. Seated at the epicentre of the acreage, the Empress seems like th…
The first time I set my foot in an apple orchard, I fell in love. I loved the fragrant, fruity scent that wafted through the air. I loved walking among the trees with their gentle canopies full of plump and beautiful fruit. And, I loved the feeling of being among them, the energy that instantly …
Thanks to the commercialization of apples that favour appearance over taste, nutritional value, or ability to survive changing climatic conditions, we've already lost hundreds of varieties of superior apples. Help us to save seemingly near-extinct varieties of apples and preserve our food heritage at the Lost Orchard with your purchases and donations.
It has never been more important to know where your food comes from. We go a step further at the Lost Orchard, helping you to learn about the unique characteristics of the apples currently in season and the trees growing them.
The Empress is a towering giant (around 40-feet tall) and produces apples that range from green with some red to a brilliant crimson-coloured apple. When greener it is crisp and sweet-tart becoming increasingly sweet and slightly softer as it ripens, with an intense flavour not found in today's commercial varieties.
Helios is aptly named after the Greek personification of the sun, which fits the sunny location of the tree, its yellow-coloured fruit, and its tendency to transmute the sunlight into the first apples of the season. When green the apples are crisp and tart but quickly ripen into a sweet yellow apple that creates the best applesauce and, when lightly cooked, an intensely-flavoured compote for serving over pancakes.
After Helios, Solstice apples are the second out of the gate with their early-season crisp green apples that slowly show a soft pink blush, while still remaining crisp and tart. Each bite offers a taste sensation that I can only describe as "apple lemonade." Yum! Here is a photo of Solstice apples, with their characteristic tiny markings at their base, in their growth stage.
