Rhody and I are still not taking many pictures while on vacation. I realize that I said that I should be more diligent about doing so, but we have been so busy vacationing. Perhaps I will do somewhat better next Saturday.

1. Apple trees before pruning look like a hot mess, particularly with the thicket of willow and other vegetation in their background, but are actually quite healthy and cooperative.

2. Apple trees after pruning still look questionable and disfigured, but really are healthy. I probably should not have thinned them so much. It will compromise their production.

3. Apple debris was not so abundant this year, since all the major cuts were made in past seasons. Almost all of this debris is one or two year old growth. Now, it must be burned.

4. Dandelion was one of the only flowers besides cherry trees that I noticed blooming in the vicinity of the apple trees. A cherry tree that I got pictures of last week is about done.

5. Western sword fern was featured in an upcoming gardening article. This picture is the same as the illustration but sideways. This fern is very common in the Pacific Northwest.

6. Rhody really knows how to relax on our vacation. He is very fond of my Pa, and enjoys lounging on his lap for as long as he can, typically with an inane movie on the television.

This is the link for Six on Saturday, for anyone else who would like to participate: https://thepropagatorblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/18/six-on-saturday-a-participant-guide/