Fall Fun: Apple Picking at Jonamac Orchard
Autumn is my all-time favorite season with the cool weather, warm drinks, cozy clothing and harvest-themed activities. When my mom came to Chicagoland for my birthday this year, we celebrated with a trip to Jonamac Apple Orchard for an afternoon of apple picking.
I wore these pearls and bright floral shirt she gave me for the occasion, which attracted more bees than I had bargained for!
Our entry tickets came with a bag that would hold up to 1/2 peck (5 pounds) of crisp apples.
We walked the orchard rows looking for the best-looking fruit among the leaves. I recognized apple names like Gala and Golden Delicious, but ventured into rows of Snow Sweet and Pixie Crunch to branch out of my usual preferences.
My handsome apple-picking partner.
Brandon told us that the farmers plant rows of flowers in the orchard to encourage pollinators, like bees and butterflies, to pollinate both the flowers and the apples. Without pollinators, we wouldn't have all these beautiful apples!
Seriously, so many bees tried to land on me. Guys, I'm not a flower!
Brandon taught us countless plant facts during our adventure. He's filled to the brim with all sorts of flower and vegetable knowledge that he's learned on the job.
You may be wondering what happens to all the rotten apples that fall from the trees?
They're shot from cannons back here! Nothing goes to waste. We took turns aiming at the apple-shaped targets and even hit a few.
Thanks for visiting the orchard with us! Have you ever gone apple picking?
Click below to read about the other fun activities we enjoyed at Jonamac Apple Orchard: