April 22, 2017 -- On this Saturday April 22nd we returned to the main fruit-growing area of Switzerland to see the end of the apple blossoming season, as the blossoms were expected to be at their height over the Easter weekend. But because Easter weekend and the week following were so cold, we thought the blossoms might have been delayed a bit.
What we found instead were apple trees glowing a shade of ochre from afar, but on closer inspection were trees in full bloom with all the blossoms turning brown, a sure indicator that they had been damaged by the freezing temperatures.
Temperatures were still cold on the day of our hike, with cold winds blowing and hazy air, so not even good views of the Eastern Alps or Lake Constance (Central Europe's third-largest freshwater lake) in the North to provide a reward for our efforts. Although, as usual, there were all kinds of pleasant villages, livestock and landscapes along the way.
Our 13-km walk took us from Berg in Canton Thurgau to Altnau on Lake Constance, slightly further West than the last hike we did in this area. Altnau is the hub of the apple orchard area, particularly the more modern, low-growth, high density style of planting. Most of the "fruit gardens" as they are called here are decked out with an extensive array of nets to protect the fruit from hail. Probably won't be necessary this year.
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| Start of our hike in Berg, Canton Thurgau |
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| The trail took us for a short piece into a magical forested area. |
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| The trail took us for a short piece into a magical forested area. |
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| An enterprising lady was serving tea and coffee in this quaint wagon, but we had no time to stop. |
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| There were still many blossoming trees as we passed this area. |
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Some farmers haven't switched to low-growth trees: These trees have value as nesting places for birds. |
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| High-growth trees can also be combined with grazing land for cows. |
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| So many farmers have covered their barn roofs with solar panels to provide electricity for their operations. |
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| Lots of interesting barn structures. |
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| The blossoming trees had a distinctive brown hue due to frost damage. |
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| We found a nice place to stop for lunch, but the wind was cold! |
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| More old farmsteads along the way. |
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| This one was just pretty funny! |
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| As we approached the city of Altnau we got the first views of Lake Constance to the North. |
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| This Common Kestrel is a rare sight in the lowlands. |
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| Many of the plantations have extensive net-work to protect from hail |
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| Modern apple orchards remind me of my Canadian home. |
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| End of our 13-km hike in Altnau on Lake Constance |
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| We walked 13 km in a northward direction from Berg to Altnau |
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| Largest apple growing area in Switzerland is in Canton Thurgau on Lake Constance. |
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