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.

All very beautiful Donna. My aphrodite is blooming now also. I haven't heard from my apple blossom this year. I think it's on vacation or something. Louana

â¢Posted by christine1950 5a (My Page) on Mon, Dec 15, 14 at 9:01 That was last year. Those were pictures from last winter. I hope there is no misunderstanding.

Ok, here are some updates. Each flower lasts for 10 days. The pictures were taken on the first flower's last day. This is the SAME flower on its FIRST DAY. Now compare this to the next picture which is the SAME flower on its LAST DAY.