On Feb 1st I drove home from my last trip to San Juan Bautista and there were very few almond trees in bloom. Today, driving the same route north all the trees are in bloom. Didn't see many wildflowers, but some uncultivated areas had swaths of tiny yellow flowers growing very low on the ground. Unfortunately the photos from the moving car did not turn out well. Traffic was not bad and the trip was just about six hours with two stops, one at a rest stop near Buttonwillow and the other for gas in Santa Nella. I usually have about 30 miles of gas left when I arrive there so it is prudent to fill up. And nice to pay $2.099/gal.
It is nice to be with Mary again, in her lovely new house. And tomorrow we will go to Back Porch Fabrics in Pacific Grove to hang quilts from the Thomas Contemporary Quilt Collection. Lunch is, of course, in order before driving back to SJBautista.
Always traffic getting anywhere in Orange County. This is where two freeways slip together and then apart in different directions. Always lots of trucks. Dare I drive between these to bemouths?
Over the Grapevine and into the miles of orchards, mostly almonds, blooming wildly. Notice the tumbleweeds piled against the fence and the white beehives on the right. Many farmers rent the beehives to fertilize their trees.
Where there aren't orchards there are pastures which are GREEN now. The bare area behind the fence posts is a dirt road for farm access.
More almonds blooming and another stack of beehives on the right.
Here is a fallow field that used to have almond trees. Once the land is prepared another crop will be planted Maybe more almonds.
Untilled land with sagebrush and weeds. I thought that I might be seeing the Sierra in the distance, but looking closely at the picture, I think it is just the clouds over the Sierra.
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2 comments:
I learned just a few years ago about the mobile bee hives, rented to orchards! Interesting business model. Unfortunately, the way I heard of it was about an accident in the Seattle area where a truck carrying a LOT of bees had an accident. I think it went on its side. Many bees died. I don't imagine the clean-up was much fun, either!
Also, what a difference three weeks makes! I guess we do have seasons here; you do have to pay attention, though!
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