when I first got into this I saw apples as a bit of a problem tree because I didn’t want at least 3 trees or whatever. I’ve learned to embrace more trees, and grafting (I will probably end up with 2-3 frankentrees in the yard to hold a dozen plus varieties, plus another dozen whole semi-wild trees along a greenspace behind me) but the other thing that I’ve noticed is honestly there are relatively few places around here where you can go more than a hundred yards without an apple tree or crab, either wild or ornamental…
it makes me wonder how many of the folks thinking they’re seeing self-fertility are actually seeing their tree set a lovely crop on someone’s flowering crab six houses down the street, a scrubby wild apple in the woods, etc…