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<p>PRINGLE &#8212; The apple tree in Dennis Kachmarsky&#8217;s yard on Pringle Hill was planted by him 47 years ago and judging by the number of blossoms and buds, it will once again produce hundreds of Empire apples.</p><p>The dwarf tree is old by apple tree standards, as evidenced by the many wooden stakes needed to prop up the branches to keep them from the ground.</p><p>The center of the tree looks like it was cracked open by a lightning bolt. Large gaping holes can be seen in the main branches. Yet the tree remains productive.</p><p>The tree is &#8212; pardon the pun &#8212; the apple of Kachmarsky&#8217;s eye. And as is the case with the tree, Kachmarsky, who will turn 89 in August, uses a wooden stick to help him navigate. He was wearing a T-shirt that read, &#8220;Pringle Hill, PA,&#8221; under his flannel shirt.</p><p>&#8220;We won&#8217;t have any apples until October,&#8221; Kachmarsky said. &#8220;And we have to watch that the deer don&#8217;t get to them like they did last year.&#8221;</p><p>So proud of this tree is Kachmarsky, that he penned a letter to the editor that recently appeared in the Times Leader. He said he just felt the world should know about his tree and its incredible fruit-bearing performance for 47 years.</p><p>Here&#8217;s how Kachmarsky described the tree in his letter:</p><p>&#8220;Believe it or not, in my yard is growing an apple tree that is 47 years old and annually bears fruit. The description of this dwarf tree: 4 to 5 feet in height and the circumference of the extended limbs is approximately 70 feet. Limbs are supported by sticks and props. I believe this tree deserves recognition.&#8221;</p><p>Kachmarsky is right &#8212; the tree is truly amazing. Reading about it is one thing, but standing next to it is another. </p><p>But before you marvel too long about the 47-year-old apple tree, know that Kachmarsky&#8217;s yard also sports a concord grapevine that his son, Tom, estimates to be 80 to 90 years old. The grapevine serves as a sanctuary for Kachmarsky, his son said. It&#8217;s where he likes to sit in the shade and drink a beer once in a while.</p><p>And then there is the vegetable garden that already has some growth. The tomato plants are yet to be planted. Tom Kachmarsky said he told his dad he didn&#8217;t want to plant too many tomatoes this year.</p><p>&#8220;I think there are 109 tomato plants in the cellar,&#8221; Tom said, shaking his head and smiling. &#8220;I&#8217;ll have to give some of them away.&#8221;</p><p>As far as the apples, Tom says they make the &#8220;best apple pies you&#8217;ll ever taste.&#8221; His dad just smiles when he hears that kind of talk, like a proud father &#8212; of his son and of the apple tree.</p><p>Kachmarsky, whose wife Mary is now in a nursing home, loves to spend time in the yard. He grew up in the house, leaving it for 30 years while he worked as a food inspector. He came back to Pringle Hill and his homestead when he retired.</p><p>&#8220;I don&#8217;t have a computer,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But I do have a telephone &#8212; I got rid of my homing pigeons.&#8221;</p><p>Kachmarsky said a man from Pittston called him after he read about the tree in the Times Leader. The man said he will be down for a visit and to see the tree. Kachmarsky hopes many more people stop by.</p><p>&#8220;Some people think it&#8217;s ugly,&#8221; he said. &#8220;But it&#8217;s beautiful to me.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Dennis Kachmarsky, 88, of Pringle, talks about his 47-year-old apple tree in his backyard on Wednesday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL051117appletree1-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Dennis Kachmarsky, 88, of Pringle, talks about his 47-year-old apple tree in his backyard on Wednesday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL051117appletree2-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The apple tree in the backyard of Dennis Kachmarsky&#8217;s home is expected to produce a bountiful harvest of Empire apples come fall. &#8220;Some people think it&#8217;s ugly,&#8221; Kachmarsky said of his tree. &#8220;But it&#8217;s beautiful to me.&#8221; </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL051117appletree2-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>The apple tree in the backyard of Dennis Kachmarsky&#8217;s home is expected to produce a bountiful harvest of Empire apples come fall. &#8220;Some people think it&#8217;s ugly,&#8221; Kachmarsky said of his tree. &#8220;But it&#8217;s beautiful to me.&#8221; </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL051117appletree3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dennis Kachmarsky stands underneath the apple tree in his backyard on Wednesday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/web1_TTL051117appletree3-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Dennis Kachmarsky stands underneath the apple tree in his backyard on Wednesday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Pringle manexpects anotherample harvest</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

47-year-old apple tree still bearing plenty of fruit in Pringle