Let every tub stand on its own bottom..

And every tree on its own roots..

Happy to see the trees growing well at the Whitmore ranch. Today it was finally dry enough that we began to mow the weeds in the middles.

30 billion honey bees working in CA right now..

Here are some newsworthy facts about Almond Pollination from BBC.

"Californian almond pollination requires billions of honeybees travelling thousands of miles in a nationally coordinated migration operating on a scale that is almost unimaginable."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-21741651

Highlights:

• A staggering 85% of the world's almonds are grown in the Central Valley; the 450-mile-long, flat-bottomed valley that dominates mid-California.

• Almond blossom appears before the leaves emerge and the resulting white and pink flowers make great swathes of the Valley look as if heavy snow has fallen.

• There are over 1.5 million hives in the Valley at this time of year. With more than 20,000 bees in each hive, this means that there are more than 30 billion honey bees in the Central Valley and all of them have been brought there to work. 

• Once there, the bees work the blossom throughout the sunny spring days, collecting nectar and pollen to raise their brood - the larvae developing within the hive - and inadvertently transferring pollen between flowers. Once pollinated, the trees set fruit and start the process of producing almonds.

Crop status: Almonds good, Candycots dud !!

The almond crop is looking good, and the prospects for decent prices remain good. Here are pictures of a Nonpareil and a Monterey tree from the Whitmore ranch.

The Candycot bloom has been a disappointment. Lane apparently talked to John who said that their bloom has been weak too. We will have some fruit, but not nearly what we had hoped for. It looks like we will be waiting another year for serious production. :(  The major training has been done so we hope the farming expenses will be much lower this year than the previous two years.

Our beekeeper has removed the bees from Carpenter, and was gracious enough to leave some at Whitmore until the Candycots finish blooming. Bee shortages are going to be a fact of life for the foreseeable future, I guess.

Trees shaking off blooms.. Petal fall accelerates..

You can see the mummies on the ground which have been swept to the center of the middles. They will need to be chopped up soon. If not, mummy nuts can be infected with pests like navel orangeworm and such.

Bloom is hanging on, not a lot of petal fall yet..

Some rain last night.. Today is cooler and cloudy but there will be some bee activity with highs in the mid 60's.

Candycot trees emerging from winter dormancy

Trees are relaxed and beginning to bloom. Too early to tell if we have any production this year.

"I said to the almond tree, 'Friend, speak to me of God,' ..

And the almond tree blossomed." 

--Nikos Kazantzakis.

Carpenter bloom.

Almond bloom.. Discussing bee colonies.. Most expensive ever.

Bees and blooms at carpenter

Each box is one bee colony. Each colony has at least six frames of bees and a queen actively laying eggs. With an active queen beee and a large brood of larvae, bees will immediately scout for food sources and will work the first acceptable blossom they could find.

Trees on the periphery of Carpenter ranch.

Blooms at Whitmore 4th leaf orchard..

"She helped the wind to whistle, sing and dance.
She provided honey for the bees to eat and line their combs.
She gave the birds a home for their families.
She produced oxygen for us to breathe.
She grew roots to help prevent erosion of Mother Earth. "