If you've never grown fruit trees before then starting out small is the way to go. When I started I went with 4 apple and two pears. I learned about growing fruit by attending classes put on by the local university extension office. I've grafted a lot of my own trees from these classes. I have learned a lot from Tony Dembski at Maple Valley Orchards in Gillett WI put a lot of the classes on. Check your local county or university extn. I attached a link if you want to see if Tony has any trees left to sell this year. Here is a link that might be useful: apple trees

Hi, it's not a cherry, the growing green fruits are already larger than any cherry I've seen. Also cherries don't all grow together at the tip of a single upright stem, cherries have individual hanging stems. This looks like some exotic that grows in very dry natural conditions, possibly a fig, does this description resemble any fig species? All the local cherries, nectarines and peaches stil have branches full of dark green leaves that will be around for months to come, this tree always loses its leaves by the end of June. It might not be a commonly grown fruit tree even for this area which seems to have every citrus and other fruit tree species that could possibly survive in this climate (which is a lot as long as you water them). Everyone please read my detailed opening description and think about possible exotics, one more thing, the person remembers being told when the fruit is ripe it turns brownish and they look like a bunch of flattened potatoes stuck to a stick! This has to ring a bell with somebody, it's just too unusual not to be readily recognizable. If you have any questions I'll try my best to help, guessing is free, at least if you give me species to look up I'll instantly be able to tell if it's the same tree. Thanks.

I think what you're dealing with are Pear Slugs, which may or may not be what Beeman mentioned above. I used to see them on my pear trees and would just squish 'em when I found them. I don't see them anymore. In small numbers they didn't seem to do much damage, just mining the leaf surfaces here and there. They are a serious pear pest though in other parts of the country. Here is a link that might be useful: Pear Slugs

Hi Mary. A fellow 'sconnie, Norway spruce are among my very favorite species, and yes, yours look pretty good. If you or someone you know has a pole saw, it is amazing how much of an improvement in appearance can be made by an hour or two of work taking off dead branches within reach of the tool. It's easy and satisfying work with a great payoff. Other than that, about the only possible thing that could matter to these trees at this point would be to watch for dry conditions. As you state yourself to be in zone 4, methinks you are somewhere in the northern part of our state, which is still sadly missing nearly every storm system that comes through. But........keep in mind....this may not be necessary at all and if you do decide to water these trees, you really need to water a very large area under and around them. Glad you are so interested and knowledgeable about trees and their associates! +oM