NickyNick said:1 June 2019
The front of the house showing a grape arbor in the middle; to the left is a large old "miniature rose" bush, to the right is the front yard, planted in a wide variety of plants. To the right is a stand of sunchokes (Helianthus tuberosus), and numerous foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) - both purple and white forms.
I used to mow this yard, like my other neighbors, but gave it up several years ago and started planting. Among the plants are several native grasses and large clumps of (native?) bunch grass, which had grown under the oak since I moved here in 1968 - they were continuously mowed down in the succeeding years, but somehow managed to survive. Now I let them grow to their natural stature - clumps about 3 feet tall and almost 3 feet wide, with sharp saw tooth edges which will cut the skin if brushed against. I think these must be native bunch grasses associated with the Oregon White Oak, since both are very tough and enduring.
NickyNick said:NOTES
Wed, May 21, 2014
I went next door yesterday to talk to Sharon Crown (Crown Apple namesake) and her niece, Jean Crown came over for a visit. I had a chance to ask Jean about the apple tree. She was living in the house here when my dad bought the property from her dad (Dr. Crown) in 1967 and the large old apple tree was there since she could remember. She appeared to be about my brother's age - who was there also - about late 50s, and they knew some people in common. I think she must still live in the Gladstone area somewhere.
Jean Crown thought the apple tree was a MacIntosh apple. I told her my research led me to believe that it was a Pippin type apple, but I would keep what she said about it in mind. I also told her that I plan to have someone from the Home Orchard Society based at Clackamas Community College come and take a look at it once it bears apples that remain on the tree until late in the year, like the original tree did. I mentioned to her that the present tree is a root sapling from the old original tree.
NickyNick said:NOTES
Wed, May 21, 2014
I went next door yesterday to talk to Sharon Crown (Crown Apple namesake) and her niece, Jean Crown came over for a visit. I had a chance to ask Jean about the apple tree. She was living in the house here when my dad bought the property from her dad (Dr. Crown) in 1967 and the large old apple tree was there since she could remember. She appeared to be about my brother's age - who was there also - about late 50s, and they knew some people in common. I think she must still live in the Gladstone area somewhere.
Jean Crown thought the apple tree was a MacIntosh apple. I told her my research led me to believe that it was a Pippin type apple, but I would keep what she said about it in mind. I also told her that I plan to have someone from the Home Orchard Society based at Clackamas Community College come and take a look at it once it bears apples that remain on the tree until late in the year, like the original tree did. I mentioned to her that the present tree is a root sapling from the old original tree.
NickyNick said:Crown Apple Tree 1 June 2019
The tree is about 20 feet tall and the branches tend to be pendulous (if that's a correct term) - somewhat like a weeping willow tree - in previous years the tree only set a few apples (about a dozen), but this year the fruit set was tremendous - hundreds of tiny apples everywhere on the tree. Overhead, about 60 to 80 feet above the tree, is the canopy of a community of Oregon White Oak trees (Quercus garryana). The Crown Apple Tree is situated at the southern edge of the canopy. The community of Oregon White Oaks is still quite large in this area (Gladstone, Oregon), but sadly many healthy trees are cut down by new property owners, not knowing their age or value - either too young to know, or too unconcerned to bother finding out anything about them. Being an old-timer here, I do the best I can to educate anyone with the time to listen - many (but not all) of the younger people tend to get uneasy if someone like me talks to them about the value of these oaks, but as long as they will listen I will be happy to talk about them and show them documentation (publications, etc.). I have two large Oregon White Oaks here on my property, both are Clackamas County Heritage Trees.
