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Crabapple Blossoms Notecard

$3.00$24.00

Back of Card DESCRIPTION

Crabapple   (Malus sp.)

Few trees create greater intrigue or visual impact during all four seasons than the flowering crabapple.  Unopened flower buds may hint of one color, but the flowers open to reveal other colors in a spectacular floral display.  In autumn, crabapple foliage and fruit transform to match the vibrant colors of an artist’s palette.

The genus Malus is native to the temperate zones of the Northern hemisphere.  Both apple and crabapple trees have clustered, five-petaled blossoms that typically begin blooming before the leaves unfurl.  All apple and crabapple require cross-pollination between individual trees by insects, primarily bees.  Crabapples are considered good “pollinizers” in apple orchards, as they have lots of blossoms, providing abundant pollen.

Fruit colors range from dark reddish-purple through to golden yellow.  Crabapples can be made into a delicious jelly, added to cider for a unique flavor, and are an excellent source of pectin.

artwork by Amelia Hansen Acorn Designs© 2010

text by Steve Sierigk