Category Archives: Apples, Plums, Pears

2025 Harvest Season, Apples, Plums, Pears, BearDance, Flathead Lake, Montana, Fruit, Fruit Growers, Garden, Montana, Nature, Orchard, Random Fun, Relaxing, U Pick

September Perfection

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We are having a most beautiful fall at Flathead Lake, East Shore, Bigfork, MT

A Quick Reminder, We are open on Friday, Saturday, & Sunday each week for another month.

If you would like to visit for U-pick Call Farmer Dan- 406-871-5499

The apples have great flavor. Pears are delicious. Still plums.

The Seckel Pears are ready for harvest. These little Pears are a treasure. Research the Seckel pear and you will learn that they are picked when turning color and can be ripened at home or later using refrigeration.

Seckels are believed by many to be the only truly American variety of pear grown by Orchardists. They are particularly treasured on the East Coast. They were discovered in the early 1800’s. The pears moved Westward with people who traveled by covered wagon.

Seckels are tiny pears, with chubby, round body, small neck, and short stem. Their skin is usually olive green, but frequently exhibits a dark maroon blush that sometimes cover the pear. Sometimes, the pear will then turn yellow.

Snack-sized Seckels added to lunches are appreciated. Particularly by Children who love their sweet flavor. Seckels are small enough to be canned whole. They are excellent in salads or roasted.

We love them with goat cheese and walnuts.

Seckel Pears
Seckel Pears
Orchard Apples with Fig Trees
Fruit for the Kitchen Preserves
Apples with lovely size and flavor. Red and bright, crisp.
Get out into the fall air for a break, apple picking is fun.

2025 Harvest Season, Apples, Plums, Pears, Flathead Lake, Fruit, Montana, Nature, Orchard, Random Fun, Relaxing, U Pick

Apple Picking Time

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Thank you to all of our fine customers!

Getmans’ Orchard & Vineyard, East Shore of Flathead Lake, Bigfork, MT 59911. telephone: 406-871-5499

2025 Fall Season

Open Friday, Saturday, Sundays until October 31.

9:00 am until 1:00 pm

Call Farmer Dan First.

This Praying mantis is our friend. They tell us our environment is great.

Keep a-Goin’

When the weather kills your crop,

Keep a-goin’!

Though ’tis work to reach the top,

Keep a-goin’!

S’pose you’re out of’ every dime,

Gittin’ broke ain’t any crime;

Tell the world you’re feeling’ prime–

Keep a-going’

From the Poem Keep a-Goin’ by Frank L. Stanton

Wonderful Apple Crop This Year.

McIntosh apples
Many Pear varieties coming in over next few weeks.  Some ready now. 9/13/2025
Our apples ready are MacIntosh, Yellow Delicious, Dapper Dan, . Several varieties coming into ripeness. Plums, several varieties coming. Japanese Plums are over.

Around The Orchard, A Most Beautiful Time of the Year.

2023 Season, Apples, Plums, Pears, Fruit, Fruit Growers, Orchard, Random Fun, To Order, U Pick

The Pickin’ is Easy, Autumn 2023

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Our apples, plums, and pears are ready. The 2023 weather has given us a beautiful and long growing season. We will be open for apple picking during the next few weeks.

Call Farmer Dan if you would like to visit the orchard. 406-871-5499.

Our branches are bending low, heavy with many different varieties of apples. The apples are delicious, crisp, and good for eating or baking. Guaranteed, our historical Macs make the best pies and deserts.

Our best applesauce making technique: Use a roasting pan. 1. Wash apples, peel apples, then chunk them into pieces. Simply, use a knife to cut the apple pieces into a roasting pan and toss the seeds and core into the compost. Any chunk is the right size! 2. Add a little sweetener and cinnamon, if you like. 3. Add a small amount of water, a few tablespoons. (enough to kick off a bit of moisture and steam. 4. Roast in the oven until the apples are tender, we like a few browned, savory tips.

There you have it, the most delicious applesauce without watching the pot or fighting hot spots and burning pot bottoms. To preserve: We jar the applesauce, add a lid, and put into the boiling water canner for ten minutes.

To make things really easy, we sterilize clean jars from the dishwasher in the oven, Place the jars on a cookie sheet and bake the empty jars for ten minutes in 350 degree oven. Boil the lids. You will have great applesauce throughout the year until next season. Homemade is far better than any purchased jar.

Sheryl Getman

2023 Season, Apples, Plums, Pears, Cherries, Flathead Lake, Montana, Garden, Orchard, Random Fun

May Day, 2023

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It has happened. A few days ago, our snow and sleet stopped. Yesterday, May 1, 2023 was 88 degrees Fahrenheit and today, 91 degrees. We are not sure how this growth situation will proceed. Our Bing cherries have burst into bloom. The lilac buds are gaining color. The Lapin Sweet Cherries are popping blossoms here and there. In optimistic hope, Farmer Dan predicts a cool down in temps and all will be well for a nice growing season.

I am listening to hot blowing wind as I write this news from the orchard. We cannot guess our harvest time. We may see some early crops. A smart farmer will not project outcomes at this time in May.

Our job during this heatwave is to get the work done and the momentum into high gear. Dan ran up the mountain yesterday to turn on our irrigation. We must conquer the fast beginnings of weeds. Our seeds and plants can go into the ground if they are new this spring. We are adding more blueberries, some peach trees, a few apple trees, and new hazelnuts. Pruning continues. We love our work and will hope for the best from Mother Nature for all of our plants and trees.

It was a radical winter and we are cheered by the life that survived. It seems that even the roses are coming in with new life. We got lucky.

Above all, we all must enjoy this glorious Spring wherever we live.