In 2008 I took an interest in growing things.
After eating an apple one evening I decided to copy what my dad was always doing, and plant some seeds. I potted a couple of apple pips in compost and left them on the windowsill.
The pips began to grow into little seedlings. I was astonished, these pips just had to drop into some soil and trees grew.
There’s no doubt to me that this experience, along with time spent under a hawthorn and small willow tree in my parents’ garden as a child, helped me to learn to love trees. It’s the dynamism, the strength, the age, the ability to grow from seemingly nothing we could survive on.
The apple tree matured, was re-potted, and was eventually delivered to me by my parents in 2018 when I moved to Sussex. It’s about 2 metres tall and just sits in its pot, not really doing much, putting out leaves, letting the seasons come and go.
As far as I’ve known, this tree will never flower or produce fruit. That’s all I’ve ever read or been told. It needs to be grafted with some other apple, ready to produce fruit.
I blogged about the tree in 2021 as part of 30 Days Macro, when bees nectared from the leaves after they became curled up by farming ants(?) and drenched in aphid honeydew.
And so… the other morning I was sitting in my garden enjoying the spring sounds, smells, and sights of new flowers. I stood up and turned to go back inside when I saw a pink flower on the apple tree.
I couldn’t believe my eyes.
17 years of nothing, and then these bright pink and white petals appear.
It made me think of the passing of time, of all that’s happened, where I am in life. It reminded me of where the tree came from, that my dad’s annual sowing of seeds had inspired me to even consider putting that pip in the little pot of compost.
Will it produce fruit? I don’t know, I don’t actually eat apples anymore (too acidic)! I don’t even know what type of apple it is.
But it felt like a signal – life can surprise you – that trees are resilient, dynamic, and beautiful.
Thanks for reading.
Unlocking Landscapes 
A beautiful story Daniel. Thank-you for sharing ❤️
Thank you Fiona 😊
What an uplifting story! That blossom was sent to give you hope. 💚🌿💚🌿💚
That’s a nice way to think of it, thank you 🙏
That s a beautiful story. I think it will fruit…. why would it not did they say? I had a similar experience in my youth when aged about 8 I begged my parents for a packet of seeds (flowers but I can’t remember which). My parents had zero interest in flowers or anything horticultural so I had to have a virtual meltdown…. but I got them. I scattered them around in a patch of soil in an old forgotten rose bed and pretty much forgot about them. Weeks later I suddenly noticed something bright and beautiful in the soil, they were up and flowering and I was AMAZED. I find it funny when people go in search of miracles when they are right here under our noses!!
That is such a nice story thanks Caroline. These are formative experiences but are so simple and as you say, right there waiting for us! I don’t know what the variety will be, could even be Pink Lady but most likely Cox’s or Braeburn. Hopefully we’ll find out soon!
Apparently there’s no reason it won’t fruit. In fact this is how heirloom varieties are discovered.
Omg really?!
That’s the best thing I’ve heard this week 💚
Just wait until next week! 👀