On Verona Island, a quiet grassy field slopes gently toward the river, guarded by a cluster of ancient apple trees.
To most, these trees appear as nothing more than old growth, but to apple historian John Bunker, they represent a living archive of botanical heritage.
Among these trees are heirloom cultivars like Tolman Sweet, Yellow Bell Flower, and Transcendent Crabapple, varieties that flourished in Maine centuries ago.
One remarkable discovery is a venerable apple tree at the orchard’s edge, its trunk hollow and weathered, adorned with patches of green moss and blue lichen.
Despite its age and diminished size, the tree bursts with delicate light pink blossoms each spring, signaling its enduring vitality. Genetic testing revealed this tree to be the only known North American specimen of the Drap D’Or de Bretagna, a historic apple variety with a lineage tracing back over 200 years.
The blossoms on this tree are not only a beautiful sight but also a symbol of resilience, carrying genetic traits that may help future apple cultivation adapt to changing climates.
Efforts to preserve these heirloom trees include grafting cuttings onto younger rootstocks, ensuring that the unique flowers and fruits continue to bloom in orchards like MOFGA’s Heritage Orchard in Unity.
Apple historian John Bunker also celebrates these trees through art, capturing the golden-yellow fruit and their blossoms in paintings. With proper care, these ancient trees, despite their gnarled limbs and hollow trunks, may continue to flower and fruit for another century, offering a living connection to Maine’s rich agricultural past.
This year, as harvest approaches, the public will have the chance to taste the golden apples and witness the blossoms that have graced Maine’s landscape for generations, a fragrant and colorful reminder of the state’s deep-rooted botanical legacy.
