Katrina Mendrey has an apple tree that got away.
It was a unique crabapple tree that bore fruit that tasted just like lychee. It died in 2020, and as far as Mendrey knows, that means it’s gone for good.
But Mendrey’s new business might be able to save others from similar losses. Branches and Roots Nursery will help clients preserve their beloved apples trees through grafting.
Katrina Mendrey stands among sunflowers blooming in her home garden in Hamilton on Wednesday, July 23. Mendrey began her home garden five years ago.
“People get really sentimental about trees and for good reason,” Mendrey said. “And so it feels good to be able to propagate trees that are important to people and hold a lot of memories and feelings and emotions.”
Grafting is a technique where the bud, or scion, of one tree is joined with the lower half of another, known as the rootstock. When that bud blooms and starts producing fruit, it will be the same as the fruit from the tree it originally came from.
