It's beginning to look a lot like Spring...Gazuntite!

It's March. Spring is almost (officially) here. And as the air quality reports clue you in to the skyrocketing pollen count, you'll more than likely find yourself saying “God bless you” to an increasing number of sneezing allergy sufferers. For those of us who live in the Central Valley, the familiar sounds of sneezing and runny noses are evidence that spring is fast approaching. The culprit: all those orchards blooming absolutely everywhere.

One of the best ways to experience the beauty of the orchards is the Fresno County Blossom Trail. This self-guided motor or biking tour stretches for over 60 miles and winds along the countryside east of the city, showcasing the vast array of almond, peach, plum, apricot and nectarine trees in full bloom. These crops typically bloom from February through March, so now is the perfect time to hit the trail. And that's just what we did. With the sun shining bright, near-70 degree temperatures, white clouds gently dotting the blue sky and a puff of allergy nasal spray, Jeremy & I took off for a Sunday drive along the trail to see the local orchards in bloom.

Bright white, light pink and red-flowered trees lined the roads. Some of the orchard blossoms were already starting to fade, but in its place a faint hint of green appeared. We took the drive at a leisurely pace, stopping now and then to snap a few pictures and admire the sun-drenched scenery. Blossom Trail road signs helped us navigate and after a couple of hours we had finished the entire loop, managing to miss only one stretch of trail (there was never a sign telling us to make a left turn, I swear.)

Despite the sneezing, the orchards are absolutely beautiful this time of year and give Fresno a vibrantly colored backdrop to enjoy. Not only that, we can now wait in eager anticipation for the harvest! It really is amazing to see the beautiful flowering trees now and know that in a couple of months we will be savoring the sweet, juicy fruit produced from those very blossoms. God is good. And so are fresh peaches.