Antique varieties: Get a behind the scenes look at the oldest active orchard in Waukesha

WAUKESHA COUNTY -- Weston's Orchards, the oldest active orchard in Waukesha, were established in 1935 by Harvey and Alice Weston on a site owned by Alice's father, William Marckwardt. By this time the farm already had an orchard and several of its current buildings. For example, its Dutch colonial style barn dates to 1901.

The farm sits atop a glacial promontory named Prospect Hill and has a panoramic view of the surrounding valleys and lakes.

According to their website, the family-operated orchards have supplied the public with historic apple varieties for over 60 years. Some of the orchards' trees were planted in the late nineteenth century and significant additional plantings were made during the Great Depression by the orchards current owners. The orchards cover 16 acres with more than 700 trees and over 100 varieties with dates varying from the Calville Blanc d'Hiver (1598), Gravenstien (1600) to the Wolf River (1881) and Pink Pearl (1944). Weston's Orchards work to conserve these antique apple vaieties from extinction. The Old Church apple, for example, is grown solely on their farm.

Weston's Orchards were included in the Prospect Hill Settlement Historic District because the grounds are an excellent example of a preserved turn- of-the-century farm. The orchards have also been added to the National Register of Rural Historic Landscapes.