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 PearsFruit for the Kitchen PreservesApples with lovely size and flavor. Red and bright, crisp.Get out into the fall air for a break, apple picking is fun.
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.
Perfect, the beauties grow and there is not a cloud in the sky.
The Orchard is in her, ” enjoy the process”, ritual. The waiting gives time for joy in the observations and the work. This is watering time. This is the Orchard’s TLC time when cherries gain size and flavor. The ground around each tree is tended. The area is kept moist. Attention is on the trees while we patiently let them develop their natural, crisp, sweetness.
Clean air, great soil, and perfect water provide the essential ingredients to produce prime sweet cherries.
Yes, we are all interested in the expected Ripening Date. Today, our guess is July 18, 2025
Read below for instructions to visit.
This is our evidence that the Orchard’s environment is in good order. These fragile creature are happy here.
Flathead Lake is Glorious
There is no sleep now
The Florescent Glow In the Evening Sun.
INSTRUCTIONS
Call 406-871-5499 for Appointment, Instructions, and Directions
We will be open from 8 am until 1 pm
Wear walking shoes that cover your feet, not sandals.
Bigfork, Mt. Call Farmer Dan For Appointment around July 15. 406-871-5499.
We are excited, the weather is fabulous as of June 19. Here is a poem for your inspiration. Read the poem, it will lift your anticipation towards a fine summer.
Knee – Deep in June,
James Whitcomb Riley
Tell you what I like the best -- 'Long about knee-deep in June, 'Bout the time strawberries melts On the vine, -- some afternoon Like to jes' git out and rest, And not work at nothin' else!
Orchard's where I'd ruther be -- Needn't fence it in fer me! -- Jes' the whole sky overhead, And the whole airth underneath -- Sort o' so's a man kin breathe Like he ort, and kind o' has Elbow-room to keerlessly Sprawl out len'thways on the grass Where the shadders thick and soft As the kivvers on the bed Mother fixes in the loft Allus, when they's company! ... March ain't never nothin' new! -- April's altogether too Brash fer me! and May -- I jes' 'Bominate its promises, -- Little hints o' sunshine and Green around the timber-land -- A few blossoms, and a few Chip-birds, and a sprout er two, -- Drap asleep, and it turns in Fore daylight and snows ag'in! -- But when June comes - Clear my th'oat With wild honey! -- Rench my hair In the dew! And hold my coat! Whoop out loud! And th'ow my hat! -- June wants me, and I'm to spare! Spread them shadders anywhere, I'll get down and waller there, And obleeged to you at that!
The Crops
The Cherries are in June Drop and on their way to Straw. We are watering like mad and mowing. Dan has been clearing pathways and tending the grass that keeps the cherry trees moist.
Peaches, Pears, Plums, Grapes, Apples all look good. Each crop has particular needs. We are fertilizing with all kinds of compost, kelp, and other specific nutrients. We will know our approximate Harvest Date around, “middle of July”.
Our Water
In April we upgraded our good well. Our pressure tanks were twenty years old. They fizzled. The genius family, Zavala’s, excavated a deep area near our well in the South part of our property.
The greatest well man, Fletcher helped us pull out the old pipe and pump. We installed a glorious and new stainless steel pump. We dug out a massive amount of soil to make an underground area for a fancy and new concrete fault. It acts like an old pump house, but it is now all underground. It was a fascinating experience and exercise. Much of the new installation was accomplished in pouring rain.
We are satisfied because we know our great water is the basis for every success that we have.
Grinding the Branches After Pruning
Around The Orchard
These 2025 Spring photos are a glimpse at the preparations here for maintaining a great season for everyone. Dan has taken these photos. He is passionate about his video and photography. The Rock photo is a Dan project: grape terraces. Dan has been designing and building various orchards for great people who want to add orchards in our Northwest Montana Valley.
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.
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.
Prime sweet cherries, peaches, plums, pears, apples, berries, events. Located in Montana at Flathead Lake, Yellow Bay.
Getmans' Orchard and Vineyard 