Blossom back roads of the Central Valley

Sunset, Feb, 1992 by Peter Fish

Blossom by blossom the spring begins," wrote English poet Algernon Swinburne. Nowhere does spring begin with so many blossoms as in California's Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. Come summer and fall, the two valleys--together forming the nearly 500-mile-long Central Valley--produce harvests that set local chambers of commerce cheering. First in almonds! First in plums! First in peaches and nectarines! But that profitable bounty comes later.

Right now, the Central Valley is first in blossoms.

Spring begins here weeks before it does on the calendar. While more northerly orchards shiver beneath February snows, the Central Valley orchards are pushing out blossoms, a kind of Valentine's Day card from nature. In order of appearance, the show of blooms includes the following:

Almonds. Small white or pink petals. Peak bloom February 10 through March 15.

Apricots. Pink petals. Peak bloom February 15 through March 1.

Plums. White or pink blossoms. Peak bloom February 15 through March 1.

Peaches and nectarines. Hard to tell apart; both have pink to red petals. Peak bloom March 1 through March 15.

Pears. White petals. Peak bloom March 15 through March 22.

Oranges. Creamy white, sweet-smelling blossoms. Peak bloom April 15 through May 1.

SIX FLOWER-FULL

DRIVES

Where are the best places to see the blossoms? We polled San Joaquin and Sacramento Valley farmers, ranchers, agricultural extension offices, and visitor bureaus, then wore out tires on interstates and back roads to come up with six driving tours that have dependable displays.

On some routes, skiers can detour on their way to the Sierra; a few drives add color to the commute between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The first tour makes a good bicycle excursion, though the rest carry too much traffic for safe pedaling.

A few blossom touring tips: The peak bloom dates given here are only approximate; like opera divas and prom queens, fruit and nut trees are extravagantly gowned stars who set their own schedules. In cold weather, they'll delay their bloom; in warm weather, they'll speed it up. Before you set out, it's a good idea to call the telephone numbers listed for a blossom update.

Remember, too, that February is still tule fog season in the Central Valley. These dense fogs make driving dangerous and sightseeing impossible. If they're forecast, postpone your visit. Finally, while the vista of a blossom-sprayed orchard is a gift to every passer-by, the orchard itself remains private property: don't trespass.