MONTMORENCY PIE CHERRY TREE

"Hi Mom-o!" said the message from Hallie. "I was thinking about how you and Dad are approaching the big Three - Five and I thought it would be fun to get you a fruit tree of your choosing as an anniversary gift. I didn't want to just go and choose something because you might already have an idea for what you want and you might also like to do some research. I'm not sure if I'm too late for this idea in terms of timing for when it's right to plant a tree, so you can let me know. What do you think?"

"Hallie gets things done," I thought to myself. "And this year she'll establish the orchard -- something I haven't managed to do."

Years have come and gone since 1998 when we decided to remodel the old farmhouse. In my childhood – and even when I was 40 – an old pear tree and two pie cherry trees behind the house constituted the orchard. The cherry trees sat very near the sloping bank. Our general contractor in charge of remodeling said that unless the bank was pushed farther back, the foundation of the house would be threatened by standing water. It had to be corrected, he said, and the cherry trees would have to go.

The cherry trees were the center of many fine memories. Sometime mid- to late-July, when my dad said the cherries were ripe, we would head to the farm to pick them. He never mowed the orchard, so he would take a scythe and cut down the tall grass around the trees. He disapproved of anyone walking in tall grass because of rattlesnakes, so he would make sure the area was prepared before we approached the trees. When I was little, he would loop a belt through the bail of a shortening pail and tie it around my waist, but it would be years before I would become a proficient picker. I remember quietly picking with my mother. I remember my dad picking from time to time. I remember the year brother Chuck was there and helped me pick – seems not so long ago. And, of course, as you pick you visit about this and that. You anticipate the pies and it feels good to put food by.

So, it about broke my heart to have to part with the old cherry trees. They say a pie cherry tree lasts 20 years – and how old were those trees? Perhaps 50 – even 60 years – and showing their age. So, since I could do nothing about their loss, I resolved to replace them. It was probably time anyway.

Yes, I had already researched and knew what I wanted – a Montmorency pie cherry tree. It's an old species, so perhaps the old trees were Montmorency. And I felt certain that the reported hardiness of the Montmorency would be appropriate for the farm. Knowing what I wanted was just half the battle. Every year I was in a quandary. Trees ordered through the mail are very young and can't be delivered to a Washington address. (We get most of our mail at the Washington address.) More developed trees are hard to transport – if you can find them.

Yesterday I let my fingers do the walking and learned the local nursery had just two Montmorency trees left and on sale through the end of the month. Hallie said the local purchase worked for her, so this morning found Mike and me at the nursery seeking out our cherry tree. "Why not a sweet cherry tree?" asked Mike. "Not the plan," I explained, sticking to my guns. "Look at this! Three varieties on one tree," he said. "Maybe next year," I said.

"This is a fine looking Montmorency," said the helper, and I agreed. Mike went to get the pick-up while I went to pay.

"I have to agree with you about the pie cherry tree," said the nursery helper. "A cherry pie made with sweet cherries just isn't as good."

[The picture shows our Montmorency pie cherry tree together with a forsythia bush – both to be planted on the farm. The old can Mike found in the barn and brought to town to throw it away. "Not on your life," I said. "This is a yard ornament."] KW