Priyanka Kumar’s The Light Between Apple Trees invites readers on a journey that is poetic, educational, and deeply personal. Exploring wild apple forests in Kazakhstan, historic orchards across the U.S., and her own Santa Fe garden, Kumar shows how this everyday fruit is a lens through which we can understand history, biodiversity, and our connection to the land.
“A single apple can be a doorway to history, ecology, and memory.”
A Garden of History and Ecology
For gardeners and orchardists, Kumar’s work is a treasure. She recounts the dramatic loss of apple diversity — of roughly 16,000 apple varieties once celebrated, only a fraction remain today — and explains why preserving heirloom trees is vital. Beyond taste and beauty, these trees support biodiversity, soil health, and local ecosystems.
Kumar also introduces the idea of “micro-wilderness” — small patches of wild or semi-wild space in gardens and towns that offer surprising ecological value.
Quick Facts from the Book
- Apple Diversity Then & Now: Once ~16,000 named U.S. varieties; today, only a fraction remain.
- Wild Origins: Apples originally come from Kazakhstan; wild apples are essential for genetic diversity.
- Heirloom Orchards: Historic U.S. orchards, including Monticello, preserve rare varieties with unique flavour and ecological benefits.
- Micro-Wilderness in Your Garden: Small wild or semi-wild spaces help biodiversity, pollinators, and soil health.
- Gardening & Reflection: The book blends memoir, ecology, and history, encouraging gardeners to slow down, observe, and connect.
“A simple apple can open a window to history, ecology, and memory.”
Personal Reflection Meets Nature Writing
The book is as much memoir as nature writing. Kumar recalls her Himalayan childhood, the first wild apple she encountered, and the inspiration she found in her own orchard. Through vivid storytelling, she brings the fruit to life — its texture, flavour, and symbolic connection to memory and place.
While the narrative sometimes meanders and leans into metaphor, these reflective moments mirror the rhythm of gardening itself: patience, observation, and attention to the small details that hold the greatest rewards.
Why Gardeners Will Love It
The Light Between Apple Trees transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary. An apple is no longer just fruit; it is a story of human cultivation, ecological loss, and hope for the future. For anyone interested in heirloom fruits, biodiversity, or simply reconnecting with the natural world, Kumar’s book is an inspiring read — one that encourages a deeper awareness of our gardens and the land around us.
Rating: 4/5
