a weighty crop

This is not the only branch tip on our (presumed Bramley) apple tree brought down to the ground by the weight of its apples. At the moment, medium sized apples on this tree weigh about 6 ounces.

We leave the grass around fruit trees uncut at this time of the year: the grass is unstressed, and this enables the trees to provide more nutrients to the growing fruit. In addition, longer grass reduces damage to falling apples.

A bee is sunning itself on the upper part of the branch.