It's Apple Blossom Time

 The Northern Spy Apple trees are just covered with blossoms ready to burst open.

The leaves are developing behind the blossoms and it will be about a week before the buds really start to open up and they will linger for a couple of weeks after that.

Now the Gala Apple Tree, that we planted back in 2022 and relocated in 2023 is at the same stage of leaf development but I really don't see any buds.  It should be blooming at the same time, which is why I chose it as a pollinator for the Spies.  It never has as many blooms as the more mature trees, but it should be putting out something.  Since the leaves have started popping out, it's shape has started to bother me and I decided it needs some header cuts.

It looks good from some angles, but the North side is starting to get thicker.

I've circled the branch that is bothering me.  Because this branch has gotten taller than the others, it will start to become more dominant, not to mention heavy.  You can see on the branch tips to the left that the leaves are more developed than the buds further down.  This is what I mean when I say that a tree will send more growth hormone to the terminal buds.  I don't want those sending out a whole lot of tip growth either.  I want to encourage branching further down on the side buds.  I want to be able to reach the apples!

This tree grows naturally in an open centered, vase shaped form.  I don't want one leader becoming dominant.  I need to head off the branches at an equal height.

Here we go.

Because of the terminal bud dominance, I want to cut just above a bud that is heading in the direction I want to direct the branch

We'll see how these cuts shape up this year.  This has not been a particularly vigorous grower or producer, but the Northern Spy trees did not begin to produce until the fourth year after they were planted and this is now the fourth year for this little tree.  Relocating it after one year probably set it back too.  The past two years it has set and held half a dozen small apples so I expect it will bloom soon.