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Thanks to Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply (originally started by our founder Amigo Bob Cantisano), a collection of some of our favorite species and varieties  are available for pre-sale through their website for the 2024/25 Bare Root Season 

Felix Gillet Collector Trees

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Below: the SOLD OUT Varieties listed are for informational purposes only. These are the trees and plants that we have re-discovered and sold over the years. They are the result of our passionate searches throughout Northern California, the Sierra Nevada and Western States to re-discover the historic, agricultural, living library still in existence. These trees and plants, left over from the 1800’s and early 1900’s Gold Rush era, were discovered on historic mining camps, ranches, and  homesteads. Most of these trees have become climate resilient with no human attention for the last 100 plus years. They give the best fruit and nuts in conditions that most fruit and nut trees cannot endure with large annual temperature variations.

These  grandmother trees have learned to thrive under the most harsh conditions, and with uncertain weather patterns.  It is our goal to make them available to growers, gardeners and communities throughout the West Coast.

We have personally taken cuttings directly from the 100+ year old grandmother trees that still cling to life in some, often deserted, historic orchards. The Felix Gillet Institute trees are very rare, exclusive plants – some may have only just been rediscovered.

95% of plants available during the 1800s are no longer available today.  We are saving what is left before they die. 

 You can become a Mother Orchard Supporter and help us in our efforts to discover more rare, historical trees and care for our collection of over 250 trees, by clicking on the Mother Orchard link above.

Ten of these varieties are available through Peaceful Valley Farm and Garden Supply this year 2024/25. 

Thank you for all your Support!

Bonneamour - Bon Cretien (Bartlett family)

SKU 00013
$0.00
Sold out
Rootstock
Product Details

Part of the world famous Bartlett family, the Bonneamour has very sweet and tender flesh. The fruit is large with a slight blush. Excellent fresh, dried or canned. As are most pears, it is picked green and enjoyed as it ripens to a soft yellow. Tree bears early, heavily and regularly. Tolerates hot summers. Harvest mid-season (August-September in Nevada County). Keeps in cold storage for 4-6 weeks. Self-fruitful; does not require a pollenizer.

This well known variety is propagated from a small orchard near Grass Valley, Nevada County @ 2300’. This is the edge of a once famous pear district at the turn of the 20th Century that shipped pears all over the US. But pear blight and pear decline, two major diseases, wiped out nearly all the pears in the 50’s and 60’s. These wise grandmother trees grow in a natural aquafer and appear to be resistant to both diseases. They have never been sprayed, are not watered or fertilized, except by Nature, yet show remarkable growth and strong disease resistance.


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Bonneamour - Bon Cretien (Bartlett family)

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