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I'm writing a scene set in a northern Virginia apple orchard around late July/early August and want to make sure my details are correct. The internet provides basic dates for blooming and ripening, but I couldn't find a good description of the in-between times.
I actually waited several months to ask this question so that people could simply step outside to answer.
If you live in Virginia or a neighboring state and have apple trees, what do the apples look like this time of year? I know they're not ripe yet, and I believe they'll be past the blossom stage, but exactly how big are they?
Can you eat the unripe apples or are they bitter?
Do they smell appley yet? Is it a strong scent that fills the air, or a subtle one that you only notice if you actually go sniff an apple?
Do wild animals (particularly deer) eat the apples at this time of year or do they wait until they've ripened some more?
If you have an orchard, I'd also like to know how the ground beneath the trees is generally maintained. Are weeds allowed to grow or is the space kept cleared? Is it covered with last year's leaves or mulch? Is the soil hard or soft underfoot?
Please describe your apples as they appear/smell/taste right now.
Thanks!
I actually waited several months to ask this question so that people could simply step outside to answer.
If you live in Virginia or a neighboring state and have apple trees, what do the apples look like this time of year? I know they're not ripe yet, and I believe they'll be past the blossom stage, but exactly how big are they?
Can you eat the unripe apples or are they bitter?
Do they smell appley yet? Is it a strong scent that fills the air, or a subtle one that you only notice if you actually go sniff an apple?
Do wild animals (particularly deer) eat the apples at this time of year or do they wait until they've ripened some more?
If you have an orchard, I'd also like to know how the ground beneath the trees is generally maintained. Are weeds allowed to grow or is the space kept cleared? Is it covered with last year's leaves or mulch? Is the soil hard or soft underfoot?
Please describe your apples as they appear/smell/taste right now.
Thanks!
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