Orchard Trees

The twenty-five acres of orchards are full of various trees, including apple and apricot. They have been largely grown and tended to by Talmadge, and are harvested in the fall by Clee and his men. Talmadge delights in tending to, and nurturing the trees to productive health. All the trees can be traced to two diseased apple trees found on the property when Talmadge, his mother, and his sister first came to live there. The two diseased trees symbolically and ominously represent Della and Jane, who will arrive at the property diseased in a way. The trees, like the girls, are not savable – but the product of the trees, the apples, grow great orchards. The product of the girls – Angelene – thrives. Orchard trees are likened to human lives: they must be carefully tended, guarded, and guided in growth.

Horses

Horses are ridden and stolen by...