Spraying the Apple Trees

Last year, I wrote the following post about my apple trees. http://susannapeters.blogspot.com/2012/05/flowering-stage.html
It’s that time of year again, and I can’t help but be inspired by the beauty and potential of these fruit trees. Last year, we didn’t get much fruit from the trees due to a late frost. The year before last, we had lots of fruit, but it was wormy on the inside. The worm larvae get into the fruit during the flowering stage and eat through the fruit as it matures.

This year, a friend told me how to protect my apples organically. Before the flowers bloom, you spray the tree with vegetable oil. She used an industrial size sprayer on her trees. I couldn’t lift a big sprayer like that by myself, so I mixed up some canola oil in an old used spray bottle. I went out while it was still cold and sprayed down all the trees before the flower buds came out. I could only reach the lower branches. I sprayed up as high as I could. A lot of the oil ended up falling back down onto me. I read somewhere online that if you spray the oil on too late, after the budding stage, it could end up killing the tree. I was a bit worried, as I could see some signs of leaf buds as I sprayed. Was I already too late? Did I miss my window of opportunity? I guess I’ll know soon! Well, the trees are in full bloom now, so I don’t think I’ve killed them. As for the fruit, we won’t know of their quality till the end of summer. 

As I was spraying these apple trees and being anointed by the oil that fell back on my head, I remembered the following verse:

“You prepare a feast for me
    in the presence of my enemies.
You honor me by anointing my head with oil.
    My cup overflows with blessings.” (Psalm 23:5 NLT)

Lord, I pray that you anoint us with oil—at just the right season—protecting us from enemy infestation. Seal us with your Holy Spirit, so no evil infiltrates us while we are vulnerable.