jvarner: I am in full disagreement with macoun, and even partial disagreement with the appleman. You haven't really seen thin, vertical shoots on your pear tree, until you prune now while the tree is still dormant. You will end up with double or triple the number you have now, as each pruning site sprouts three of four new shoots. Instead, prune apple and pear trees only in late summer, after terminal buds begin to form on that season's growth. This will make the tree more fruitful, and discourage unwanted vegetative growth. Prune no earlier than mid-July, and it is better to wait until August. I figured this out after experimenting about 10 years ago, and it has made all the difference in the fruitfulness of my apples and pears, and the appearance of the trees. Stone fruits are a different story, and I do dormant prune things like cherries, peaches and apricots that depend on renewal wood. However, I also prune peaches in summer to keep the shade off the fruit. Don Yellman, Great Falls, VA

Just support your branches, and make sure you're fertilizing your Meyer well. They are SUCH prolific fruit producers, they need more fertilizer, at least, in my experience with mine. And Ann, I'm an "old lady" but refuse the moniker (both "old lady" and "technically challenged". Here's how to add photos, it is SO simple, anyone can do it: 1. Go to www.photobucket.com. Sign up for a membership. Easy peasy. 2. Click on "upload photos". 3. Browse to all your photos on your computer of your tree. You can hold the Control button down, and left click on each photo to select all the photos you want to upload, and they'll all upload at one time. 4. Click on each photo. Over on the right side bar, you'll see various code options. Look for the "HTML" code option. Left click one on that code window. You'll see a "copied" message appear. That means that HTML code for your photo has just been copied to your Windows clipboard on your computer. 5. Come over to the Citrus forum, start your message. And then, where you'd like to insert your photo, simply RIGHT click, and select "Paste". All that code string will then be pasted right in the body of your message. 6. Click on "Preview Message". Voila! Your photo will be directly embedded into your message! Super easy. Patty S.

I find it unusual, if not downright unlikely, that Bartlett could survive and do well for 23 years in NC. They're a fireblight wimp. I'm strongly suspicious that you've got something other than Bartlett - maybe even Keiffer; especially since you say it's a very very firm canning pear - that'd NOT be what I'd expect of Bartlett. It's a very common practice for the big box stores, and even some nurseries, to buy overruns, seconds, etc., from the big propagators and apply their own labels(usually Bartlett, for pears, as it's a well-recognized variety name), regardless of the true variety - they figure the bulk of the public either won't know, won't care, won't care for the trees(and they'll die) or they won't bother doing anything with the fruit if/when they do finally begin fruiting. Have a look at the NCGR Pyrus collection, linked below. Most of the varieties have photos or paintings that illustrate what the fruit looks like. Compare your pears to Bartlett and Keiffer. I'm betting on Keiffer; while many folks denigrate it as being barely edible and only good for making pear preserves, it is iron-clad in being able to withstand the ravages of fireblight and still rock along, producing good crops of fruit - and to me, having grown up in south AL, where it's one of the few pears that can withstand the yearly FB onslaught, it's what a pear is supposed to be - firm, juicy, tasty, and gritty. I love 'em. Here is a link that might be useful: NCGR Pyrus collection

Mike121, I like that insight and I agree. Over time several trees we planted when we moved here have seen damage from harsh weather. I never consider replacing them, preferring to appreciate their imperfections as signs of survival. But when we were cleaning up after this last storm I was struck by the beauty of those big branches and couldn't bring myself to just toss them in the woods. I haven't begun Christmas decorating yet - still emptying boxes from our garage from our move back home after a remodel and cleaning up behind 2 wks. of house guests. But I'm keeping the limbs covered from the elements and still hope to come up with an idea.