Scott: I have a number of apple trees with very sparse to practically no bloom this spring, though many of these have bloomed heavily in past years. I suspect that the severe cedar apple rust outbreak of spring, '08 has something to do with it, though I have never heard of such a thing. It is certain that there were large numbers of dead fruiting spurs left behind by the disease and I have been pruning them off, though I don't believe the active disease is present in them. My weather conditions are very similar to yours, and the apples are in full bloom right now. In spite of the very cold night of March 21, followed by the nearly as bad night of the 23rd, I do not see what I would describe as distortion of the apple blossoms. Many of the apricot blossoms were fried, but hundreds made it through, and I will still have an apple crop more than adequate for cider making. and lots of apricots and peaches. I have been much more attentive with Ferbam application this year, but, with thunderstorms passing over tonight wish I had been able to do a final application yesterday afternoon. Eventually, I may go to the systemic Immunox, but will probably still alternate with Ferbam. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Ab Pip as in Newtown? I don't know, my niece's were pretty much bug free with no spray but it's (or was ... I'm working on her and her acres :) ) the only apple within sight and her pear is extremely hard and late. I'd love to put a scion from her tree there but I think it would be the same problem different apple. If you meant AR Black it seems fairly bug resistant. By the time that tree was bearing the bugs were winning the organic battle and I was giving up and not even trapping. I'd still get a handful that weren't perfect for storage but were edible. I had some perfect apples from it during my neglect period but nothing to get excited about. Most of the damaged late term apples from it were apple maggot, they're constant all through the summer. I didn't start spraying (which is where I am a newbie) until late June/early July last year and there were some curculio drops but nothing like from the Cortland/McIntosh. But they are rock hard, or if I was writing a catalog, "crisp" (I wonder if the kids that stole a branchful in September will be stealing any this year). I hope my flowers are off and it's not going to rain so I can get out and spray today. A good fruit set of McIntosh without a wave of curculio drops will be heaven.

I searched emaryllis and it looks most like Flamenco Queen or Charisma Lucky me since I already have an Apple Blossom. Much like gambling....you never know if you are going to win or lose. My hubby calls it fraud but I call it serendipity.

Hi Hippeastrumadmirer, I personally HAVE had success with Apple Blossom as the seed parent..see on page 2 of this forum, "Which Bulbs Are Sterile" and read the thread. (rather than re-post the same pictures) At the time, a year or more ago, I also posted this event and pictures on the LandsPro forum...if you want to take a peek... Now, I have tried many times in the past few years to use Apple Blossom as the seed parent and all times it failed, but as you can see, this one hit the spot (so to speak) so, don't hesitate to try and try again. Yes, you can use Apple Blossoms pollen on others but, I personally haven't had success that way, and I'm not sure I even tried! The only reason I bothered to try Lady Jane on Apple Blossom was because they were blooming at the same time! In the past when I would try a cross, I would just do it once and it if didn't take, so be it. Now, I dab the pollen twice a day for at least 3 days in a row and I find my success rate much better. Good Luck, and no mater what others will tell you, once in a while Apple Blossom WILL produce viable seeds. All of the seeds pictured in the photo germinated and are all about the size of a large grape..all growing fine. Donna