Thrills, romance, apples

Today I have the pleasure of sharing this tale of an apple, from bud to fruit.

Can I interest you in the lifecycle of 'Herefordshire Russet' apple, from dormant bud to blossom to fruit?

40+ photos tracking the growth of a single fruit over the course of the year:https://t.co/yvg9f7f5mH

🧵: edited highlights follow... [1/8]
#orchard #apples pic.twitter.com/i7jH3rEj4I

— Orchard Notes (@OrchardNotes) March 28, 2023

There is adversity; there is suspense; there is romance. 

Will the buds survive the frost? Will there be consummation with a pollinator? Will the drama bear fruit?

The story comes to us from Darin Turpin, an orchardist from the area of Manchester, England, who documents his exploits and research on his blog, Orchard Notes.

I embedded his tweet, above (because it features one of his striking photos), but here is a direct link to his report, "Lifecycle of an Apple, From Bud to Blossom to Fruit."

It's worth scrolling down to the "Detailed Version" for such narrative as

Now is the moment of truth. Have the pollinators done their work, or did that sharp frost kill the blossom before successful pollination occurred?

This is Jane Austin–level stuff, exquisitely photographed and paced.