Heirloom apples are harder to come by than Cuban cigars, it seems. Sally Moon tells the story of her 20-year search for Black Twig, which took her all the way to Thomas Jefferson's estate (otherwise known as "the other Monticello").
"What would you like to taste?" a nice person asked us. I explained about looking for Black Twig. He sent us up to the barn where we were surrounded by apples bins of Abermarle Pippen apples. Thomas Jefferson's true favorite apple of which we ended up buying 10 lbs.
Another fellow came by and I told him of my apple quest ( told him how I worked for extension and how amazing it was that I was finding my perfect apple in VA not NY) and he said.."Well, I do have some in the back of the cooler..I'll sell you a sack." and then he said, "Don't tell my brother."
The happy ending: She's now growing a few saplings in her yard.
The nurseryman said he didn't think they would grow too well, but like the other fellow said, "If I don't grow them, they will disappear."
