The Orchard

Summer is my favourite time of year. I love the windows open, the breeze blowing through the house or car, eating on the patio, tending the garden and picnics. The late summer harvesting of garden vegetables, the tomatoes, cucumbers and other delicious treats of carefully tended produce are a delight as well. Then there is the orchard.

Every year this time the nearby orchard, Arlington, opens to its loyal customers who flock to its delicious crop. A multitude of fruit varieties, especially apples, ready at various times over a two month period, bridge the late summer and early autumn months. We love the place and the products.

An Arlington adventure for us includes the drive through the Island countryside, through fields of soon-to-be-harvested crops, potatoes, wheat, soy or canola. The Grand River and its peaceful meander through the countryside give a reflection of the beauty of the place. After several turns, there's Arlington, up a well maintained dirt road through the trees into a grassy parking lot. There is a border of apples in various stages of ripening on bending trees and branches.

You can borrow a wagon to carry the baskets they provide for the apples. We have one for our granddaughters, Sylvie and Caitlin, in the trunk of the car.

The girls enjoy the wagon and Sylvie hugs into Caitlin as we start through the orchard. It is a short pleasant walk down through the trees full of apples. 

Nearby is a tractor and wagon used to tour guests around the orchard on the weekends.

The girls love apples and are quick to grab one each.

 Today we're picking Melbas which will make great apple sauce. 

It is sunny and warm with a breeze as everyone, including the girls, pick enough to meet our needs for the next few weeks. Caitlin, the youngest, doesn't want to leave the apples and protests a bit. 

Then she settles into the cart munching on the apple which is as big as she can handle.

Arlington also has plums and pears. The plums make great jam so we pick a few of them as well, enough to satisfy the craving for this great addition to crusty bread. Caitlin protests again when leaving the plum trees behind. She loves the orchard as much as the rest of us.

We leave enough time for both girls to use the playground. 

This year, Sylvie can climb on the tires herself. She realizes that she has grown and is so proud of herself. 

Caitlin, an infant last year when we were here, is just testing things out this year. Both girls enjoy the area immensely.

Any visit to Arlington is great but one with our granddaughters is extra special. The fruit is the delicious bonus.