A series of essays examines the apple-tree's natural history, its ties to human migration and cultivation, and the contrast between wild and domesticated forms. Close botanical and seasonal observations describe blossoms, fruit development, flavor and fragrance, and phenomena such as frozen-thawed apples, alongside practical notes on harvest and storage. The author records the tree's role in local ecosystems and its attractions for birds and mammals, and supplements these details with cultural and literary allusions, reflections on naming and beauty, and meditations on the simple pleasures of orchard life.