Eddie1, I noticed Fedco is listing pears & plums, too. Everyone's additional comments were really helpful. I know now where to find cherry scionwood, thanks to Mark. I'll graduate to Nick Botner in a year, or so, when I can have a more educated appreciation of all his treasures. Applenut, your comments spurred some research into the climates for the areas you mentioned. What a revelation to find that my climate seems to be very similar to Apple Valley, just a little colder & with more chill hours! I only want to order a few varieties this year, partly due to available space, but mostly because I think further education on the different varieties would be a good idea. Joyce Neighbors' list had a note on the Captain Davis apple. She said it originated in Mississippi & does well in her area in Alabama. Last year I planted some bare root pears. One, the Warren, was found in Mississippi. It seemed to take to the climate here with greater vigor than the others. I want to take a chance the Captain Davis will do well here, too, if it is still available. It also seemed silly not to try the guy in SoCal's scionwood & budwood since he is apparently located a couple of valleys away from mine (although apparently in a warmer climate than my Sunset zone 11 & USDA zone 8). His website is also a treat & very informative. Those old California mountain orchard varieties he lists are of interest--I noted that my most vigorous benchgraft last year was Sierra Beauty. I am anxious to try Richard Fahey & Fedco, since I know they have a good reputation, but will have to put them off until next year. The others are enticing, too! I like trying a number of sources, so appreciate your giving me a variety. Thank you all again for helping me! Cecilia

Oh, Kathy, I would love to trade apricot! I have growing (mulitple grafted) Bleinheim, Royal Rosa, Katy, and a new Orangered. I was searching this spring for a white apricot, and I had to "settle" for buying the new Cot-n-Candy aprium. Canadian White Bleinheim would be a perfect addition to the family! And for anyone who has never tasted a "real" apricot, you send me some priority mail postage, I'll mail you some heavenly tree-ripened ones in a couple of weeks when they get nice and ripe! (barring a hailstorm, of course!) Carla in Sac

I donÂt think Suruga would not be a good plant for a northern grower, as I understand they ripen very late. Giombo always gets great taste reviews, but I have seen conflicting reports of its hardiness, but I hope to be trying it as well. I am growing Eureka, Fuyu, Great Wall, Matsumoto Wase Fuyu, Saijo, Tamopan, Izu. The only ones that fruited last year were Fuyu and Tamopan, they are a couple years older, and this is the 1st year in ground for my other s. One of my Matsumoto Wase Fuyu has a couple fruit this year but, I afraid it is labeled incorrectly as it is oblong fruit, segmented with 4 divisions running lengthwise, as a bud sport of Fuyu I would think the fruit to be oblate and tomato shaped as is Fuyu. The only plants big enough that would be able to take some scion from this year would be Fuyu and Tamopan, neither of which I understand to be particularly cold hardy from my understanding. I plan to try to expand to a few more cultivars as well. I think the earlier ripening cultivars are the best bet for those in the northern areas. Olga lists some good selections I think. Below is a Ripening schedule from Edible Landscapes. I agree that fluctuating spring weather is more a risk than the mid-winter minimum temperatures. September: Izu, Miss Kim, Sheng, Wase Fuyu October: Gwang Yang, Hana Fuyu, TamKam, Wase Fuyu, Ichi Ki Kei Jiro, Izu, Makawa Jiro, Sheng, Miss Kim, Smith's Best, Sung Hui November: Great Wall, Hychia, Hira Tanenashi, Kungsun Bansi, Miss Kim, Saijo, San Pedro, Smiths Best, Sun Hui, TamKam, Gwang Yang, Hana Fuyu, Makawa Jiro, Ichi Ki Kei Jiro December: Hana Gosho, Tecumseh .

Please use the April post,thank you. Ron S