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distortions.net
Here’s today’s temporary repair of today’s irrigation gusher under my Valencia orange tree. I’ll get around to replacing the whole thing sometime this year… #HomeOrchard #Yarden https://www.distortions.net/2026/08/28/heres-todays-temporary-repair-of.html
August 29, 2026 at 1:10 AM
distortions.net
My citrus, avocado, and feijoa drip irrigation main line is starting to split. I installed it around 2017 so I’m fine with having to replace it now. Thankfully the weather is cooling a bit. #HomeOrchard
August 28, 2026 at 3:19 PM
danielrufus.bsky.social
My final legacy from my old garden. I started this fig tree 2 or 3 years ago by air layer. Lattarula or White Marseilles fig. Most productive and reliable in my yard. I also grew its parent from a cutting, two houses ago. A bit droopy after replanting. Fingers crossed. 🌱 #homeorchard #figs
Fig tree out of the ground for transplanting. It was out of the ground a few hours for transplant and digging. I think 90% of the roots are intact. I pruned a few broken ones. I cut the top 2 feet or so, leaving about 3.5 feet. Cut to decrease transpiration. Despite the bad transplanting season and sone wilting, I hope that with sone TLC it will survive and grow. Transplanted Lattarula fig tree, late August 2926. There is some first- day wilting but I think it will recover with plenty of watering and some TLC and good luck.
August 23, 2026 at 11:43 PM
distortions.net
The California Scrub Jay family were pecking our Hosui Asian pears, for food/water and/or to attract ants for food, so here’s our harvest. Fortunately, they’re sweet for Asian pears and they’re a reasonable size #HomeOrchard #AsianPears #Yarden
Eight brown, speckled brown Asian pears are on a countertop with a few fingers in the frame for scale. They’re each maybe smaller than a tennis ball.
August 5, 2026 at 1:22 PM
distortions.net
Drat. Our tree rejected these two avocados. To the compost they go. Seven remain on the tree. #HomeOrchard #Yarden
Two palm length, green avocados rest in an open hand against a blurred outdoor background. One has a yellowed stem.
July 24, 2026 at 2:27 AM
distortions.net
It’s that time when nectarines are ripening. Here are a few we have so far kept safe from bugs and birds (one is suspect though). These are the largest fruit the tree has ever produced. Last year they were slightly larger than plums #HomeOrchard #Yarden
A hand is holding a ripe red to orange nectarine while three other peaches are on a tiled surface.
July 16, 2026 at 3:20 AM
resonanteye.bsky.social
schoolhouse plum! it has a bunch. first year it's had fruit. i really hope it's good

#gardensky #homeorchard #growingfruit #spokanegarden 🌱
a plum tree branch with a hand behind it, the branch has many green plums on it
July 9, 2026 at 12:47 AM
miklix.bsky.social
Growing your own loquat trees at home rewards you with sweet, sun-ripened fruit, beautiful evergreen foliage, and the simple joy of harvesting fresh produce right from your garden :-)

www.miklix.com/gardening/fr...

#LoquatTree #GrowYourOwn #HomeOrchard #GardenToTable #FruitGarden
Loquat tree growing in a lush home garden with clusters of ripe yellow-orange fruit among glossy green leaves.
May 31, 2026 at 4:43 PM
danielrufus.bsky.social
Today I thinned apples. I leave one good apple per cluster, with clusters about 6 inches apart. The trees are mini trees or espalier so no ladders #AccessibleGardening 🌱 #SeniorGardening #VictoryGarden #HomeOrchard
Apple clusters before thinning. About 8 apples. Apples after thinning. Three apples.
May 24, 2026 at 9:13 PM
autumnthoyre.bsky.social
Plum and peach flowers + so many happy pollinators! #pollinators #homeorchard #gardening #byoc #plums #peaches
White flowers on a small tree Pink flowers on a small tree
May 18, 2026 at 9:46 PM
danielrufus.bsky.social
The micro-mini apple trees are blooming. These are from varieties I liked, and grafted onto extremely dwarfing Budagovsky-9 (Bud-9) rootstocks. They stay 4 to 5 feet tall with a small amount of pruning. Perfect for #AccessibleGardening. Mostly heritage varieties. #HomeOrchard 🌱 #Gardening
Gravenstein Apple micromini dwarf apple tree, grafted onto Bud-9 rootstock. Almost finished blooming, with petals starting to brown. Columnar apple variety "North Pole", grafted onto highly dwarfing Bud-9 roostock. This tree is only about 4 feet tall. Apple variety 'SummerRed", grown on Bud-9 rootstock. SummerRed is a Canadian variety. In my climate, the flesh is tinged red under the skin. Heritage apple variety "Macoun", which has dark red, almost black apples. The flesh has a hint of berry flavor. I'm growing it on Bud-9 rootstock. Macoun seems especially susceptible to the dwarfing trait, only about 3 feet tall in 6 years. In the background is a mislabeled columnar apple tree in bloom. I think it's Blushing Delight. I bought it as Tasty Red, but it isn't that variety.
April 20, 2026 at 11:25 PM
danielrufus.bsky.social
Liberty apple tree blooming. It's pruned in the "Dr. Seuss" style due to accessibility issues for me and inaccessibility for deer. 🌱 #HomeOrchard #gardeing
Oddly pruned apple tree in bloom
April 20, 2026 at 8:02 PM
danielrufus.bsky.social
2nd Asian pear tree pruned today as usual Fruiting spurs low enough for me to reach w/o ladder, spurs too short to droop to deer height, and too high for deer to be comfortable reaching up to. I think this is Nijiseiki pear but it wasn't labeled. #HomeOrchard #deer #AccessibleGardening 🌱
Asian pear tree pruned to accessible but deer-unfriendly dimensions. Pear tree with half of pruning done.
February 15, 2026 at 8:09 PM
danielrufus.bsky.social
I removed 2-3 feet of top growth from this Methley+Shiro+Hollywood Asian plum multigraft tree. Buds are swelling! So prolific - hundreds of potential plums. I thin a LOT. Pruning philosophy: short enough so no ladder needed. Too high for deer. 🌱 #HomeOrchard #AccessibleGardening
Multigraft Asian plum tree after pruning. This tree started as Methley. I added on Shiro and Hollywood about ten years ago. My fruit tree shaping philosophy: no branches easily reached by deer. That includes long slender willowy branches that will droop with weight of fruit. But, as someone who isn't as able as I used to be, keep all branches low enough to reach without a ladder. So, there's a "Goldilocks Zone". I try to keep fruiting spurs 6" to a foot long. I don't worry too much about keeping the center open. it has sort of a flat top, so sun reaches all of the leaves and fruit.
February 11, 2026 at 7:55 PM
ucanrpubs.bsky.social
Show your garden some love on Valentine's Day and join us for the launch of Home Orchard, 2nd Ed.
📅 Saturday, Feb 14 | 9AM-Noon
📍 Fair Oaks Horticulture Center
11549 Fair Oaks Blvd, Fair Oaks, CA
Explore our gardens and bring questions for Master Gardeners.
#UCMasterGardener #HomeOrchard #FairOaks
February 11, 2026 at 1:32 AM
danielrufus.bsky.social
This Stanley plum tree reached the end of its stability, so I started cutting it down.

Such pretty wood. If I was still a woodworker, I would save the logs and make something.

🌱 #gardening #homeorchard
Cross section of Stanley plum tree log. It shows colors of magenta heartwood, grey transition wood, and yellow sapwood.
February 11, 2026 at 12:30 AM
danielrufus.bsky.social
Today I pruned the first multigraft Asian pear tree. Its main job now is pollination for its neighbor. It has some good pears. The goal is, flowers and pears stay above deer browsing height, but below what would need a ladder to reach. #gardensky #homeorchard 🌱
Small Asian Pear tree, pruned 5 Feb 26. There are lots of flower buds.
February 6, 2026 at 1:30 AM
danielrufus.bsky.social
Interesting bark on my 25 year old, dwarf Liberty apple tree. I don't know why it's so gnarly. Very productive of sweet, flavorful, crisp, juicy red apples. Might be triploid, so needs a pollinator and doesn't reciprocate (in theory. I think it does). #TreeTrunk #HomeOrchard #Gardening 🌱
Trunk of dwarf Liberty apple tree Branch fork of dwarf Liberty apple tree, with lichens and bark malformations.
January 5, 2026 at 12:17 AM
danielrufus.bsky.social
Today I cut down the 26 year old Jonagold apple tree. It's had, maybe, 3 productive years. It's triploid, so doesn't pollinate others. Delicious, crisp, sweet, juicy, flavorful apples. But I can't justify the burden of caring for it any more. I have other, better, varieties. #HomeOrchard 🌱
Pieces of apple branches lying around, after the tree was cut down.
January 5, 2026 at 12:08 AM
danielrufus.bsky.social
Winter pruning has started. Today I pruned this "dwarf' Liberty Apple tree that way-outgrew its dwarfing rootstock. I keep the branches above deer munching height but still within human (me) reach without ladder. Power pruners help. Be VERY CAREFUL - they can cut off a finger! #HomeOrchard 🌱
Liberty apple tree after pruning. Deer don't munch as high as those branches & spurs. Another view, same apple tree after pruning Power pruners. Great help! Extended reach, instant cut through inch - thick branches. Be very careful - they can do that to fingers too. My helper. He stands out of the way until pruning is finished and I'm cleaning up.
January 3, 2026 at 12:27 AM
ucanrpubs.bsky.social
Home Orchard, 2nd Edition is here!🍎
Nearly two decades of University of CA research updates.
From rootstocks to rainfall, pests to pruning—this is the guide for serious backyard fruit growers.
Get the guide, grow the dream.
Buy now: bit.ly/HomeOrchard2
#HomeOrchard #FruitTrees #UCANR
Cover of The Home Orchard Second Edition showing a fruit tree.
December 6, 2025 at 2:04 AM
ucanr.edu
New edition of UC ANR’s ‘The Home Orchard’ offers advice on growing tree fruit and nuts. ➡️ ucanr.edu/blog/food-blog/article/homeorchard
ucanr.edu UC Agriculture & Natural Resources @ucanr.edu · Dec 4
New resource for home growers! 🌳 UC ANR’s Home Orchard, 2nd Edition features updated guidance on figs, persimmons, nuts, IPM, irrigation & climate-smart practices.
Get your copy: bit.ly/4iD1cGC
#FruitTrees #Orcharding
@ucanrpubs.bsky.social
December 4, 2025 at 6:44 PM
danielrufus.bsky.social
Today's persimmon harvest. I should have checked weeks ago. Birds got a lot of them. This is Nishimura Wise, sold in the US as "Coffee Cake ". They require pollination to be sweet when crisp. These are very good! #Persimmons #HomeOrchard 🌱 #KitchenGarden
Freshly picked "Coffeecake Persimmons", known in Japan as Nishimura Wise. These require a second variety for pollination. They are crisp and sweet. Coffeecake persimmon on the tree. Fencing is for deer. Birds got about half of the persimmons but there are still some for me.
December 1, 2025 at 12:26 AM
templemom.bsky.social
We have positively gorged on figs this year. Our little fig tree has been full to the brim! This is the last of them... now we'll have to be patient until next year.

#gardening #HomeOrchard #fruit #figs #GrowYourFood
A blue-rimmed plate is piled high with ripe kadota figs. They are plump and round, in shades of brown and brownish-green. The plate sits on a blond wood table.
September 9, 2025 at 11:55 AM
danielrufus.bsky.social
Pears are ripe now. I picked a big box of them to take to the food bank. Also a box of apples. #gardening #HomeOrchard
Pear tree with ripe pears
September 2, 2025 at 2:48 AM