It feels odd to wait so long to prune, until the pears are blooming and the apple buds are showing their first signs of pink. But the late approach actually makes the work easier since you can see exactly what each twig is going to do. You just have to be careful not to knock off tender flower buds while you work.

Our fruit trees came through the winter unscathed this year, partly because we ripped out the tender peaches last spring and partly because this past winter just wasn't as harsh. The real test of fruiting, of course, will come during Dogwood and Blackberry Winters, when lows may drop beneath the flowers' critical temperatures. I've resolved to cover what I can, but it's hard to imagine protecting whole trees!