What’s up with that? Weather, disease have been tough on Old Apple Tree

Recently I took a Japanese friend on a tour of the Fort site and we walked the Land Bridge ending up at the Old Apple Tree. I have seen the apple tree many times in my 40 years of living in this area, but was disturbed by its condition that day. The leaves were curled, and many green apples were laying on the ground under the tree. I was wondering if the green apples had fallen due to our crazy spring weather, had fallen because of a disease or because someone had knocked them down (I hope not)? Also, I was wondering if other apple trees have been started from the original apple tree and where they might be growing?

— Sandie Hollister, Felida

Sandie, you are pretty observant.

We forwarded your question to Charles Ray, who is the city of Vancouver’s urban forester and a member of the Old Apple Tree Research Team.

Ray said that the conditions you noticed probably could be attributed to a combination of recent weather and a yearlong campaign to help Vancouver’s only living survivor of the Hudson’s Bay Company era recover from some serious damage.

“What you noticed regarding the leaves of the Old Apple Tree was caused by diseases which thrive in cool, moist weather,” Ray said in an e-mail “This June was a strange time for our plants, and most have been impacted by an increase in diseases. We have taken several steps to help control the foliar (pertaining to leaves) diseases that plague the Old Apple Tree.”

The Old Apple Tree is also trying to recover from the damage it suffered in June 2009, when two of its three main branches snapped. Another member of the Old Apple Tree Research Team recently was at the park, on the south entrance of the Vancouver Land Bridge, giving a boost to the recovery.

“As part of that recovery, Collier Arbor Care pruned the tree on June 8 to allow more light to the tree to help control disease and reduce new growth,” Ray said.

And those green apples on the ground probably were another result of Collier Arbor Care’s house call to the ailing tree. They thinned the fruit in an effort to strengthen the branches, Ray said.

Got a question about your neighborhood? We’ll get it answered. Send What’s Up With That? questions to neighbors@columbian.com.