California Spring Kaleidoscope | Angela Neal Grove Angela Neal Grove

California Spring. Almond orchard in full bloom in the Capay valley North of San Francisco. Avenues of trees stretch in all direction. Hives of bees are brought in to pollinate the blossoms which fill the air with fragrance. Standing under the trees the only sound is of their humming. //PHOTO: ANGROVE — Almond orchard in full bloom in California’s Capay Valley. Avenues of trees stretch in all directions. Hives of bees are brought in to pollinate the blossoms which fill the air with fragrance. Standing under the trees the only sound is their collective humming.

World Almond Capital

Two weeks ago I headed to the Capay Valley, north San Francisco, to see the California Spring unfolding.

I wanted to see the almond trees in bloom. 80 percent of the world’s almonds come from this area. Orchards stretch in every direction, right to the base of the Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area.

It was a picture-perfect California spring morning. Two hot air balloons hovered over flat farmland and the sky was crystal clear. At first I saw a few orchards, then the whole landscape unfolded into acres of pale pink blossoms.

California Spring: Orchards of almond blossoms in the Capay Valley, California, nudge up against the Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area. //PHOTO; ANGROVE — Almond orchards in full bloom in the Capay Valley nudge up against the Blue Ridge Berryessa Natural Area. Walnut trees on the right are still dormant.

CALIFORNIA SPRING: Graceful over-arching limbs of the almond trees in a Capay Valley, California, orchard look like arms of ballerinas in a classical ballet when the trees are in full bloom PHOTO; ANGROVE — The graceful over-arching limbs of the almond trees in the orchard reminded me of the arms of ballerinas in a classical ballet.

“Murmuring of Innumerable Bees”

Walking beneath the almond trees was magical. The sound of bees, the light almond fragrance which filled the air and the patchwork of avenues of blossoms stretching in all directions.

Bees hives are brought in to pollinate the blossoms. Much has been written about virus diseases which decimate beehives, as well as devastating effects of pesticides. Here the bees were both busy and thriving.

California Spring: Bee Hives are brought to Almond orchards to pollinate blossoms. A sideline is honey produced. The real money maker for owners of bee colonies is the rental for crucial seasonal pollination. PHOTO; ANGROVE — Bee Hives which are brought to the orchards to pollinate the blossoms. A sideline is the honey produced. The real money maker for owners of bee colonies is the rental for crucial seasonal pollination. Standing in the orchard the hum of bees reminded me of lines from a poem by Tennyson; “The murmuring of innumerable bees”

Almond blossoms are simple five petaled flowers growing in clusters with yellow stamens. The center is dark pink and outer petals pale pink.

California Spring

On my way back to San Francisco I decided to take a scenic route past Lake Berryessa Natural Reserve. Some wild flowers were already blooming. There were nice patches of blue lupin and some stands of vibrant pink redbud. Too early for golden poppies.

I dropped down onto Napa’s Silverado trail to see spring in the wine country. There were a few fields of mustard. Bright patchworks among the vines.

California Spring. Mustard is planted between rows of vines in the Napa Valley. In Spring the flowers glow bright yellow. PHOTO:ANGROVE — Mustard growing between the vines on Napa County’s Silverado Trail

South to Ano Nuevo

A complete contrast to wandering among scented almond blossoms was a visit to Ano Nuevo State Park, about 50 miles south of San Francisco. I wanted to see elephant seals which are members of the pinniped family.

The Northern elephant seals celebrate California spring in their own inimitable way. They come ashore where males battle for mates and females give birth to pups in the dunes. Most adult seals are gone by mid March. The weaned pups stay through April.

The galumphing awkward seals were a complete contrast to the delicate beauty of the almond blossoms. Yet both come from Mother Nature’s same design studio and are essential elements of the eco-system.

California Spring: Elephant seals come ashore at Ano Nuevo State Park to mate and give birth. They are endangered and are protected. Here seals lie on the beach. PHOTO:ANGROVE — Elephant seals come ashore at Ano Nuevo State Park to mate and give birth. They are endangered and are protected.

California Spring: Elephant seals come ashore at Ano Nuevo State Park to mate and give birth. They are endangered and are protected. Here is a seal coming from the water. PHOTO;ANGROVE. — Elephant seal, a member of the pinniped family, on the beach at Any Nuevo State Park.

California Spring: Elephant seals come ashore at Ano Nuevo State Park to mate and give birth. They are endangered and are protected. Here seals enjoy the water. PHOTO; ANGROVE — Elephant seals enjoying the surf at Ano Nuevo State Park

California Spring. Elephant seals weigh 4,500 lbs. I dropped my sunglasses near a seal and had difficulty in retreiving them. I needed to give the seal space. The glasses were retrieved. PHOTO; ANGROVE — I dropped my sunglasses near an elephant seal. The adults weigh 4,500 lbs and I had to maneuver to retrieve my glasses. They are protected and I wanted to give the creature his space. I also was worried if I bent down he might roll on me! However I managed to retrieve my glasses with my foot and all was well.

California Spring The weather has been mild and dry in California. We are all hoping for rain. The upside is that there have been some warm and spectacular days. This image of sunset over Mount St. Helena was taken early February in Healdsburg.PHOTO ANGROVE — Spring has been mild and dry in California. We are all hoping for rain. The upside is that there have been some warm and spectacular days. This image of sunset over Mount St. Helena was taken early February in Healdsburg.

Future Travel?

Like many, I have a some exciting travel plans scheduled for this year. A private exploration of the Northwest Passage and Arctic Circle for one. In December when reports of Coronavirus in Wuhan began to trickle into the news it seemed like something a world away. Now it is on our doorsteps, literally.

Until now “going viral” has been a good thing, Coronavirus has ruined the metaphor. As I write art, sports, schools and entertainment events are cancelled here in San Francisco. Grocery stores and suppliers have empty shelves as people prepare for a possible self-isolating 14 day quarantine.

In Paris the Louvre was closed temporarily, but fashion week continued with goodie bags containing branded face masks. Black with CC logo at Chanel.

In Hong Kong knife wielding bandits absconded with a palette of TP. In Tokyo it is being padlocked to dispensers.

We feel vulnerable. Coronavirus is not caused by climate change but the disruption is similar to what we might face in the future if we do not address the issue. Perhaps the shock of this disruption might make us pause and recalibrate. The pause button has now, for me, been pushed on a year filled with exciting travel plans.

Its time to take stock. After this will we view the privilege of traveling our globe in a different way? Will we heed climate warnings and change?

Resting elephant seal at Ano Nuevo State Park.

Comments

Magg says

March 8, 2020 at 8:21 am

Oh Angela! You wrIte
So beautifully! I feel as though I‘ve been with you to the almond trees anD the
Sea lions! Your blog is such a tReat!Your photographs are exquisite!!
- Angela says
  
  March 8, 2020 at 9:02 am
  
  I am so happy you liked it! sharing these experiences is what I love. I wish you had been with me. especially the almond orchards, you would have loved it!
  Angela
Cheryl mCLaughlin says

March 8, 2020 at 2:08 pm

Oh this was such a beautiful, fun read on a Sunday morning. Ahhh.Breathe! I had never seen a close-up of an almond Blossom before. Very pretty. And I lOve your piece about the elephant seals. Glad you retrieved your sunglasses safely!
- Angela says
  
  March 9, 2020 at 9:28 am
  
  The almond orchards were magical. We were guests of a farmer who kindly let us tramp through the trees and set up tripods! just magical standing there. The elephant seals were just fascinating in their own way. the most ungainly of creatures – galumphing is a word coined and used to describe their gait!
  Angela