Blossoms and Allergies

Posted on February 20, 2023 by vanbraman

Blossom time has begun again in California. For the past couple of weeks trees have been blossoming and filling the air with allergens. It can be a bit miserable, but a very beautiful time of year in the Central Valley.

Almond Blossoms, Central Valley, Spring, OrchardsThis picture is from several years ago. I used to drive south on I-5 to Patterson on Sunday mornings. I would look out over orchards full of white and pink blossoms and it would really looks like it had snowed on the valley floor.

Almond Blossoms, Spring, California, OrchardsRight now it is mainly almond trees that are blossoming.

Cherry Blossoms, Cherries, Orchard, trees, spring, blossomsHowever, the cherry trees are also starting to blossom as well.

Cherry Blossoms - Central California - Honey Bee - Pollination - Spring Time - OrchardsBees are out in force pollinating the blossoms.

bee hives, almond orchards, california, central valleyAs you pass by the almond orchards you see stacks of hives at the end of the rows of trees. As I head south to Patterson on Sunday mornings now I take a two lane road that runs through the orchards. I see the trees slowly turn colors in the spring. The bee keepers watch for the first sign of blooms and get the bee hives set out and then they watch for when the pollination is done and move the hives further north to where they are needed.

It is a beautiful time of year, but I am also happy when it is over and my allergies calm down a bit. For now, I just keep taking my allergy medicine. I also try to remember to put the air in the car on recirculate when I am driving through the areas where trees are in blossom.

Steven

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Sunset Progression

Posted on February 19, 2023 by vanbraman

Last evening I was out walking just before sunset and decided to take some pictures of a sunset progression.

sunset progression, california, red sky, sunsets, park, silhouette I had just come home from the library and had only planned on walking a few laps around the park as I was still wearing out and about clothes and shoes. I had not changed into my walking clothes and shoes.

On one of my first laps I stopped to take this picture. I then knew that a good sunset was in process and decided to keep walking and taking pictures each lap.

sunset progression, california, red sky, sunsets, park, silhouette Here it is starting to get dark and the sky is staring to really get colorful. This is actually a view that I have not had until recently. There used to be a another large tree right in the gap between the two trees. See: Trees Down

sunset progression, california, red sky, sunsets, park, silhouette The sky continued to add more color as the sun was dropping under the horizon.

sunset progression, california, red sky, sunsets, park, silhouette Here the sky is full of color and the trees are really silhouetted against the sky.

sunset progression, california, red sky, sunsets, park, silhouette Finally the sunset reached maximum color and brightness and by the time I made it back around the park it had almost lost all the color and brightness.

It is nice to have some party cloudy days for some great sunsets.

Steven

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