you pick

Apple Picking at Advanced Tree

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As the weather starts to change and the air becomes a little cooler, that signals the start of fall… and with fall comes apple season! We attended opening day of the You Pick apple orchard at Advanced Tree Technology. This is a really nice farm with You Pick apples, pumpkins, and other fall goods. They also sell trees and plants for your yard.

We were so excited to attend the first day of You Pick for the apple orchard. We go every year, but we usually go a little later in the season. By that time, the apples start to get more sparse on the trees as people pick them over. But this time, we were the first ones to have our choice of apples. The trees were loaded with perfect apples, ripe and ready to be picked. We were able to fill up our bag with the most beautiful looking Cortland apples quickly and easily. Cortland is our favorite variety at this orchard, because they are tart and perfect to eat or bake. I prefer the tart and sour apple taste over the sweet apples that are normally in pies.

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After filling up our bag, we headed back to shop to pay for our bag of apples we had just picked. The shop has extra varieties of apples as well as cider, apple butter, and some really nice decorative gourds. This is cash or check only, so remember this if you go to visit.

After that, we headed home, and I made a delicious apple crisp! Kroger sells the crisp mix in the baking aisle. All you need to do is mix in butter and sprinkle the mixture over the top of some peeled and sliced apples in a baking dish and bake for 25 minutes. It’s so simple but so delicious!

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If you’re looking for a fun, outdoor activity to do with family or friends, this is a great choice. It’s relaxing and peaceful, and you can turn your apple souvenirs into an edible reward. Check out advanced tree technology’s online You Pick schedule to see what is available in the order at that time. As the season progresses, even more varieties become available. I hope you enjoy this fun fall activity as much as we did.

U Pick Flower Garden - GardenView Flowers

Last night, we took an outing to GardenView Flowers in Grand Rapids, Ohio. There is an absolutely beautiful U Pick flower garden there to make your own bouquets!

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GardenView Flowers is in the middle of nowhere, off of a cute little country road. When you arrive, you check in at the garden stand. The owner was super kind and welcoming. They set you up with a vase and a cup to hold your flowers together. It is $12 per vase. Then, you just start picking flowers!

There are 3 flower fields. There is small one in the middle and two large fields on either side. Each field has an excellent mix of flowers, each one unique and beautiful. I absolutely love walking the rows of flowers, searching for the next perfect flower to add to my growing bouquet. You can make your bouquet however you like! I chose to use purples and pinks, with little hints of yellow. But that’s the beauty of it; you make it how you want it. Anyone can enjoy it. There’s something cathartic about searching through flowers that just makes you forget about everything else during the day.

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The variety there is fantastic. They have everything from huge sunflowers towering over your head to little tiny daisies. I saw every color of flower imaginable. There really is something for everyone there. The wildflower mix was my favorite. There is just such a vast array of colors, and they really pop in a bouquet.

This amazing flower garden is also an excellent place for photos. It’s also a super instagramable location. Bring a friend and you can enjoy taking tons of pictures together!

At the end, the owner wraps your flowers up for you in a newspaper bouquet and even offered to take a photo of me. Now, we have two fresh flower bouquets in our kitchen and an evening full of fun memories. Definitely check out GardenView Flowers if you’re ever in Northwest Ohio.