Page 9 - Leisure Living Magazine July 2016

Mother Nature Takes A Break -
Peach Heaven IV
By Brad Schwan, Schwan Orchards, Catawba
Over the years I have written about how Mother
little did we know it was the start of a monsoon that would not only flood the orchard but actually uproot dozens of trees. By the time that front had moved on, the
Nature has taught us so many lessons. lessons are helpful, but after
what seems like an endless
list of “gotcha’s” it appears
that maybe she is going to
give us a break. Over the last
dozen years we have seen a
new challenge each year. If
you have read my past arti-
cles, (available online at www. LeisureLivingMagazine.com)
you will know that we have
suffered through endless in-
sect attacks, hail, deep killing
winter cold as well as spring
frost. In addition there are the battles with deer that will actually scrape and bust up the young trees.
Here is one you might find hard to believe. It is not uncommon for Diana and I to be sitting outside at the end of a long day enjoying a burger and bev- erage and to be entertained by a gigantic groundhog strolling across the orchard. The enjoyment turns to anger as we watch that same four legged “bowl- ing ball” leap up into a peach tree. Then without fail it will decide that the peach at the very tip of the branch looks perfect. It’s one thing to eat a peach or two but when an entire branch breaks off, things have gone too far.
Added to the usual list of curve balls thrown at the peach crop was a new one last spring. As I wrote my annual update last year it was raining and blowing. Although nothing seemed dire at the time,
A few good
Damaged trees in 2015
damage was huge.
Now that I have updat-
ed you on all the doom and gloom that goes with this line of work, let me give you the good news. It would appear that Mother Nature is going to give us a break this year. At this point the orchard looks beautiful and the trees are loaded with peaches.
There is always the chance of the unexpected, but at this point things look great.
We hope you will come take a look for yourself this summer and the best time to do that is either when we start selling peaches and produce around the first week of July or Saturday, August 6th from 11am until 8pm. That is when we will hold our sec- ond annual Catawba Peach and Wine Festival right in the orchard. Last year we put together this party complete with food, wine, live music, speakers and competitions. We had no idea how our gathering would be received but were overwhelmed by its success. Entrance and parking are free with pro- ceeds from wine sales going to the Ottawa Coun- ty Humane Society. For details feel free to stop by our market, or visit Schwan Orchards on Facebook or schwanorchards.com or call 419-341-7326. Have a “peachy” summer.
Game Warden Services
Licensed Nuisance Animal Control
Gino A. Barna 413 West Catawba Rd Port Clinton, Ohio
419-672-1480
gamewardenservices@gmail.com
• 33 Years Service as a State Wildlife Officer • Licensed by the Ohio Div. of Wildlife
for Nuisance Animal Control • Visa/Mastercard Accepted
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