I live at 5A NY and I often feel that getting fruit can be futile due to late frost. In the last 15 years it seems very common that we have a warm April that encourages bloom followed by a colder May that kills blossoms with hard frosts. It's frustrating. The Adirondacks might be cold enough to avoid this weather phenomena. I also get the feeling that zone ratings on the trees don't tell the whole story. The trees might be able to survive typical winters for their rated zone, but the fruit buds are usually not as hardy as the tree. Then there are unusually cold winters, like last winter, that threaten to kill any trees that are on the borderline of survivability. Were I live is mostly heavy clay and shale rock. It's best to plant on slopes and design drainage to prevent water-logging the clay. I don't know what Adirondacks will be like. I assume more rock mixed with clay, which might help with drainage. The ice age glaciers scraped away all the good soil. They stopped around the NY-PA border. The problem is compounded by water erosion in hilly areas. People living on the hills pay big money to have "topsoil" trucked in from the river bed areas so they can garden. The clay here gets brick hard when it dries out. I have family that lives in central PA and I am always jealous of their success. The soil quality and the weather are so much better that it seems like whole different world... and they are only a 1.5 hour drive away! With that said, I think some of stone fruits might be ambitious. Unfortunately, it is usually a process of learning through loss. You don't really know what will work until you try. The specifics of the exact area have a big impact on success and failure. Some varieties are significantly hardier than others, which can make all the difference if you are living on the edge.

Organic mulch is the best single thing you will probably ever do for your trees. It -improves soil fertility and texture as it breaks down, -prevents germination of many weed seeds, -reduces competition for food and water from grass and weeds, -reduces erosion, -helps to maintain soil moisture during dry periods, -often aids drainage by preventing surface crusting and sealing, -can keep roots cooler during hot summer weather, -can help to moderate soil temperature fluctuations, -reduces frost-heaving, -reduces certain soil-borne diseases by preventing soil and fungi from splashing onto foliage, -prevents damage from mowers and trimmers, -and improves the look of the landscape.

Many flowering crabapples are excellent small trees for the landscape and 'Prairie Fire' is considered one of the best with very high ratings for disease resistance. Blooms later than most crabs with bright reddish-pink flowers and attractive russet colored foliage. Can eventually get to 15-20 feet with about an equal spread, so best if planted at least 10 away from any structure. Personally, I dislike trees planted in the middle of a lawn - there is nothing to ground them or tie them into the landscape. I'd prefer to see them with at least a reasonably sized planting bed surrounding them and underplanted with other shrubs or perennials to give them some context. But it's your choice :-)

Dream, they are dinner plates. There were only 6. Ebay can be very expensive. Luvs, I agree, cute little add on for a hostess gift. Yes, I have lots to do scapes with, need some inspiration! Thanks, Nana. I think someone may have returned them, as there wasn't any other plates to go with them. Punk, we do have a good time. Always fun to shop with another dish aholic! :) Jane, so good to hear from you! I hope you are well, and that you pick up some bargains if you go! Somebody told me they got the red and white cloth 2 yrs ago! Funny how diff things surface at different times. Thanks for looking everyone! I appreciate it.