Historic Apples with Mark Richardson -A Way to Garden with Margaret Roach September 19, 2022

A collection of historic apples that was threatened by disease is having a second act at the New England Botanic Garden at Tower Hill in Boylston, Mass., where a three-year-long restoration of their orchard of 119 antique varieties has just been completed. 

It's a story of going the distance to see those old varieties into the future in the age of climate change, and of what goes into making a successful forward-looking orchard—from smart watering methods to native underplantings and more. 

Mark Richardson, New England Botanic Garden’s director of horticulture, oversaw the recent apple orchard restoration project there, and he's to tell us more about what imperiled the collection of 119 antique varieties, what it took to save them, and lessons learned that can help gardeners who want to successfully grow fruit.