Piper Orchard, fruit orchard containing primarily heirloom apple trees, located within Seattle Washington's Carkeek Park
Piper Orchard is a historic orchard in northwest Seattle containing dozens of old apple trees, pear trees, and crabapple varieties. The trees grow on a hillside along a creek trail and are maintained by volunteers to keep them healthy and producing fruit.
Andrew Piper, a Bavarian immigrant, planted fruit trees and a vegetable garden on his land in the 1890s. After his death in 1904, the trees remained, but were forgotten until 1981 when a landscape architect discovered them and volunteers began restoration work.
The orchard is named after the Piper family, who planted fruit trees here in the late 1800s and brought their harvest to the city. Today, visitors and volunteers gather to tend the old apple varieties and celebrate the seasonal harvest together.
The orchard is located about halfway up the park on a hillside trail near Piper's Creek, accessible from several park entrances. Visit in spring to see blossoms or autumn to see ripe fruit, and wear shoes suitable for an unpaved, gently sloped path.
Minnie Piper, a family member, planted thousands of snowdrops west of the trees that blanket the hillside in white each spring. This surprise flower display marks the start of the season and adds an unexpected layer of beauty to the historic site.
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