Summer Orchard

Martin knew it was autumn again, for Dog ran into the house bringing wind and frost and a smell of apples turned to cider under trees. In dark clock-springs of hair, Dog fetched goldenrod, dust of farewell-summer, acorn-husk, hair of squirrel, feather of departed robin, sawdust from fresh-cut cordwood, and leaves like charcoals shaken from a blaze of maple trees. Dog jumped. Showers of brittle fern, blackberry vine, marsh-grass sprang over the bed where Martin shouted. No doubt, no doubt of it at all, this incredible beast was October!

- Ray Bradbury, The Emissary 

Unholy Orchard

There really is no excuse as to why every hayride doesn't have stuff like this in their fields...

unholyorchard.com

Styer Orchard Halloween 2012

Visited Styer Orchard today in Bucks County.
Tons of great stuff.











Went home with this neat frame and some small ornaments.

Orchard Smudge Pots

On every cold night in winter, the grower must be ready with his orchard heaters. The heaters in commonest use are oil-burning stack pots, which are placed between the tree rows, one to a tree. With the broadcast of a frost warning, the watchman in charge of an orchard stays up all night, keeping crews ready to light the heaters with gasoline torches resembling an engineer’s long-spouted oil can. The burners must be watched and regulated at intervals. Where the smudge pot heating method is used, a thick blanket of black smoke produced by the fuel protects the trees from frost. Threat of frost is greatest about an hour before sunrise. During a cold period, everything within miles—clothing, furniture, faces—is covered with the greasy soot.



More information at the History of Glendora blog.

Cider

Martin knew it was autumn again, for Dog ran into the house bringing wind and frost and a smell of apples turned to cider under trees. In dark clock-springs of hair, Dog fetched goldenrod, dust of farewell-summer, acorn-husk, hair of squirrel, feather of departed robin, sawdust from fresh-cut cordwood, and leaves like charcoals shaken from a blaze of maple trees. Dog jumped. Showers of brittle fern, blackberry vine, marsh-grass sprang over the bed where Martin shouted. No doubt, no doubt of it at all, this incredible beast was October!

Image source.