West Kootenay Tree Specialist
About Me
My name is Spencer Legebokoff, and I come from a lineage of people who have been caretakers of fruit trees for over 100 years. Over the course of my life I’ve cared for over 1,000 trees, many of which I’ve returned to over the years. I’ve learned that no two trees are the same—for instance, you can have two apple trees of the same variety, planted at the same time, and in the same location, and one bears fruit and the other doesn’t. The character and personality of each tree is what keeps me curious and interested in fruit and ornamental tree care.
To help a tree thrive, you must understand the character of the tree, and the goals of its owner. Within mutual compromise that you find harmony and balance—often translating into fruit.
Although I'm educated in a variety of approaches to tree care, the proof of my abilities is in how trees have responded to my work over multiple seasons. It’s common to be called to a job where someone’s trees haven’t been maintained for over 10 years. Unlike coniferous and many ornamental trees, fruit trees take time to adjust to our will, even if in the big picture we are helping to optimize their health. Sometimes a tree will take three to four seasons before it starts to settle into a state of yearly growth that isn’t excessive, and it responds to yearly pruning with new fruiting branches.
My great, great grandfather, Fred Bonderoff was an orchard man, who owned and maintained a variety of fruit trees in Robson, BC, in the early to mid-19th century. Although I only know him through a few stories, and old photos, I believe my genetic link to my grandfather is connected to my fascination and ambition to take care of trees.
Tree care is inherent in my genetics, and my interest is infused into my service as I care for the trees of those living in the West Kootenay region. Open Centre Tree Solutions was born out of interest and genetic longing, and continues to function as a local service in the area my ancestors planted their seeds.
Fred Bonderoff (1894 - 1992)