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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!

Orange Crabapple

SKU 00178
$0.00
Sold out
Product Details

This wonderful, unique crabapple is small and sweet with a thin orange skin that blushes red in the sun. Its sweet, orange flesh makes for a delicious treat. The tree itself is the largest of 50 trees in a 100+ year old orchard. The caretaker stretches a net under the tree and catches the apples before they hit the ground to make orange crabapple jelly every year. It is, most likely, a great pollinator and adds beauty to any orchard. This may be the famous Transcendent Crab Apple but we haven't positively identified it.

We have found three of these trees, one in Dutch Flat, one in Cedar Ridge and another in North San Juan. Dutch Flat was an important stagecoach stop in the mid 1860's. Mining and timber harvesting were huge industries for the area, but it also boasted a rich intellectual and acting culture where even Mark Twain visited and performed at their historic Opera House.

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Orange Crabapple

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