Harvestman, I think you're correct about the sunlight factor as well. We've had persistent gloom here, very few actual sunny hours -- I'd bet something like 20% of normal since spring began if I had to take a guess. I've noticed that many plants seem very "wimpy" compared to normal. They're lush in a sense because of all of the water, but also rather "spindly" and kind of peaked looking -- things just don't look happy. I haven't gotten to spray at all yet, not once. Luckily, I have seen almost no trace of PC, which is the major early pest for me. They promise me that the rain will stop after the warm front comes through, which as I speak is plowing through West Michigan in the form of a strong MCS (Mesoscale Convective System) with numerous tornado, severe thunderstorm, and flash flood warmings. So, if it moves through here this evening and actually doesn't rain tomorrow, I will spray.

I think the s/d is semi dwarf, meaning the tree should grow to 12-15 feet tall as opposed to a full size, standard tree. Red delicious appears to be self-sterile or self unfruitful, meaning it needs a cross-pollinator. You've picked two, golden delicious and jonathan, that will both work as cross pollinators. Another red apple will not work as a cross pollinator. I think you've got it! I'd look for trees as least 3 or 4 years old so you can get some production going in the next few years. You've waited long enough! I'm no expert, for sure, I just have 3 apple trees, a golden delicious, a granny smith and a honeycrisp. The golden, supposed to be self-fertile, grew for 10 years without once giving an apple. The year after I planted the granny smith I got a bumper crop from the golden. I think it just wanted a new friend, lol! I think Ken gave you some good advice, head over to the Fruit and Orchard forum. They may be able to give you some good tips. They've really helped me with spraying programs. Barb

The News also said that the Santa Ana winds have died down, so the smoke is sitting inland, and not moving out to sea with the winds...but they said the winds could pick up again, which would move the smoke away from the cities... what a mess, and how horrible for all the people who have lost their homes and everything... I'm glad there are so many volunteers helping... I remember the night our house burned... what a nightmare... I hope we never have to go through that again! It was terrifying... we had to keep going back in to bring out all the puppies and dogs... and the smoke was so thick and black... it was pitch dark, and we had to feel around for the crates with dogs in them, and open them up and pull the dogs out, take them to the outdoor kennel... it was March, and cold... and there were little baby puppies, we put them in the car with the heater on, hoping they would be ok... we were very lucky... we only lost one dog to smoke inhalation. Everyone else got out ok, and was fine... I know how those people feel... we lost just about everything, including all my houseplants that I had grown for years... it's a very strange feeling, knowing that you can never replace some of your possessions. They are gone forever... things that have been in your family for generations... just gone. And all you can think of is that you are lucky to be alive... You know... it might be a strange suggestion, but after everything has died down, and there are charities taking donations, it would be something to find out if you can donate some young bulbs, or even some adult flowering bulbs, for landscaping or house plant replacements... it might seem kind of dumb, but I know that when my friends sent me cuttings and baby plants after our fire, it was the nicest gesture... it made the rental house we were in feel more like a home... sometimes, it's the little things that matter the most, and make the biggest difference...

I'm not sure where in Oregon you are located, but up here in Washington, nearly every good retail nursery carries 'Appleblossom' and they are available right now, as bloom time is rapidly approaching. And FWIW, "pink" is a very generous term for this cultivar.......yes, the buds are a very clearly noticeable pink but the flowers when open are are the color of, well, appleblossoms :-) Pretty much white with just a hint of pink - not even what I'd call a blush pink.