Among new landscaping projects at Big Rock Valley (BRV) is a fruit orchard located northeast of Anton House. The project pays homage to Stone Abutment Farm, which Cass County farmer Richard Lake operated on the property in the 1800s, reportedly with 500 apple and peach trees.
Led by Maggie Chapman and Cody Hoff, our orchard begins on a smaller scale with eight apples trees (McIntosh and Honeygold) and eight peach trees (Redhaven and Contender). Varieties were chosen primarily for their ability to survive in cold weather, with the Redhaven peach having been developed in nearby South Haven, Michigan, in the 1940s.
Two crabapples trees have also been included in the mix to help with pollination. Although peach trees are self-pollinating, apple trees require pollen, which is transported by bees from different but compatible varieties, Hoff explains.
For the orchard’s design, Chapman drew inspiration from Le Jardin Plume, a contemporary garden in Normandy, France, that combines a formal geometric layout with flowing grasses and perennials. With that in mind, the BRV fruit trees have been planted within a 60-foot square space, leaving room for grassy walkways in between the rows and native prairie grasses around the perimeter.
The trees should grow to about 12-15 feet in height, Hoff says, and although they will quickly begin to produce fruit, heavier production isn’t expected until the third year. Organic sprays will be used to control pests and disease, while fencing will be introduced to prevent deer from snacking on the young saplings.
Prior to planting, Chapman and Hoff carefully prepped the area, taking measurements to ensure the fruit trees would be perpendicular and parallel. Then, to celebrate Earth Day, they organized a companywide event so that employees from other departments could help place the young trees in the ground. Hoff, a recent hire from Wellfield Botanic Gardens in Elkhart, shared best practices for purchasing, planting and pruning fruit trees.
“Fruit trees require a lot of commitment, and require a special expertise, which we now have since Cody has joined the team,” Chapman says. “We hope this will become another pondering spot for the foundation’s retreat guests, which is one reason we chose the location, which is easy to spot from the main road.”
