Honeycrisp Pollinators

According to Sky Nursery's handy apple tree list (pdf file), Honeycrisp requires one ofthe following companion trees as a pollinator. I don't live in the vicinity of any other apple trees, so I have got to choose from among the following:

• Rosey Glow
• Chehalis
• Akane
• Spartan

Of these, Rosey Glow and Akane are the most attractive to me.

Rosey Glow ripens very early -- mid-August -- so it would be a nice foil to Honeycrisp's mid-September fall.

But, I can't find much information about Rosey Glow -- Akane might be the best choice, in spite of its later harvest.

http://www.applejournal.com/use.htm

Which Apples?

I want to plant two apple trees.

For the past year, maybe two, I have been moving two concrete blocks around in my yard, trying to find the perfect spot for them.

I feel I have settled on good locations, and I am ready to go.

The only potential issue is that they will be within 15-20 feet of two very large douglas firs, which could potentially monopolize what little water falls over the summer.

This summer is supposed to be wetter than usual, however, so they'll probably be ok for the critical first year.

And so, the question: which apples?

Honeycrisp (one word) is possibly the tastiest apple I have eaten, so that has definitely got to be one of them:

http://www.honeycrisp.org

http://seattlebonvivant.typepad.com/seattle_bon_vivant/2004/11/honey_crisp_app.html

Sky Nursery has semi dwarf and dwarf varieties on hand, $32.97 each.

Thoughts on photography

I believe I may have finally come to terms with my equipment wants and needs. For the past year or two, I have been agonizing as to whether or not I should "go digital," convert my darkroom into an inkjet room, and never again buy a roll of film.

In truth, this might be the best route to take in continuing my Junk Drawers project, as it would allow a higher degree of control over some aspects of these images.

In general, however, I do not feel that the amount and type of photography I do (sporadic black & white landscape hobby photography, for the most part) warrants spending upwards of $1500 on a camera alone.

If I were a professional event photographer, this would probably be my tool of choice:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Nikon/nikon_d200.asp

But, every 6 months or so, somebody comes up with something new, that renders all year-old cameras obsolete!

Besides, I have gotten so spoiled by my tiny little digital snapshot camera, that I am loathe to carry anything much heavier.

Therefore, for the time being, for "fine" photography anyway, I am sticking with silver... and, yes, gelatin...

For snapshots, my little 3.2 MP Canon digital camera is just fine:

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/specs/Canon/canon_sd110.asp

And now, I am on the lookout for a vintage Zeiss Ikon. More to come on this subject...