Almond bloom nears. You can share your favorite viewing spots in Stanislaus County
The almond orchards of the Central Valley are about to put on their midwinter spectacle.
The bloom typically runs from mid-February to mid-March. The Modesto Bee is asking readers to suggest the best places for viewing in Stanislaus County.
They can send their ideas, along with photos from past years, to jholland@modbee.com.
The Valley has about 1.34 million acres of almonds, meeting about 80% of the world demand. No nut can mature in late summer unless a bee pollinates a flower in winter.
The growers rent about two-thirds of the nation’s commercial hives this time of year. The telltale white boxes already are in place.
A few words of advice:
1. Go east into the lower Sierra Nevada foothills for vantage points better than the flatlands.
2. Do not walk into an orchard for a selfie. This is private land where people are working and bees (occasionally) are stinging.
3. Look for places where plants other than almonds are blooming between the tree rows. An increasing number of farmers are doing this to nourish bees amid various stresses.
4. Check out the Almond Blossom Cruise, based on the car culture captured by Modesto native George Lucas in “American Graffiti.” It’s at www.visitmodesto.com.
This story was originally published February 8, 2023 at 9:47 AM.
