Wow, 2025 may have been the year you discovered that old scruffy deciduous tree way in your backyard was actually an apple tree. Or that unidentified, underperforming, unappreciated apple tree planted by a previous owner suddenly bloomed bigly then set a lot of pretty good fruit.
STFS has received this year an above normal number of inquiries like the following:
“I am with the Pacific Northwest Gardening group and am trying to identify the type of apple in the photos I’ve included with this email. The tree was on the property when we purchased our home in 1988.
Normally the tree produces fewer blossoms and a larger fruit becoming ripe in October, this year we were astounded to see it so full of blossoms. I know very little about thinning fruit or pruning trees and plan to research the processes in detail.
Any help you can offer will be much appreciated.”
STFS Life member Lorine B. has for many years now IDed mystery apples brought to her in-person at local fall fruit shows or mailed to her along with a completed apple ID form.
Lori’s past pome sleuthing and apple ID 101 are described in several articles found in the following past STFS Urban Scion Post newsletters:
USP 40 10 Oct 2022 , USP 40 05 May 2022 , USP 40 01 Jan 2022 , USP 39 10 Oct 2021 & USP 39 09 Sep 2021.
For 2025, Lori has scaled back her apple ID tour to just outdoor venues. Lori’s only in-person appearance will be Sat Oct 4th 11:00 to 2:00 at Pipers Orchard Festival of Fruit where you can bring your mystery apples for possible ID onsite or more likely drop off your apples with Lori for later ID and communication from Lori.
IMPORTANT: Each apple variety submitted for ID to Lori must be accompanied by a completed 2025 Apple ID Form which can be downloaded: HERE
Here are Lori’s instructions:
“This 2025 apple ID season, I offer that people can mail or drop off apples to my address on the form. Please follow the instructions closely, failure to do so will not lead to satisfactory results. Yours fruitfully, Lori”
For the Apple Identification program click this link: