Almond bloom is exploding into a beautiful scene for bees and beekeepers. When we pulled into this orchard several days ago, there were no open blooms. As the image above shows, large portions of this orchard are now fully open and enticing millions of bees to visit. Forager after forager is coming home loaded with pollen that will create a bounteous next generation of baby bees. Temperatures are, incredibly, forecast to reach the 70s with sunny skies over the next ten days. The rate of pollination in the trees and the level of stimulation for the bees will be exceptional as the rest of the orchard comes into bloom.

Today we went out to watch our bees work the blossoms in the early afternoon when they were at their peak level of activity. In hindsight it seems remarkable that I cautiously avoided making the almond run in past years. Witnessing the bloom feels pretty addictive. It's also very exciting to see the bees reap so much benefit among a mother lode of flowers while the windchill is -10F back home. Of course we won't stop worrying about the monetary overhead inolved with this trek or the risks inherent in transporting our hives across the country, but this is all an abnormal amount of fun as well.

We couldn't ask for a more picturesque environment either. There are a number of ponds, water fowl, raptors, and tallgrasses that add up to a pretty scene for our labors. The stage appears to be set favorably for spring 2020. Cautious optimism feels warranted.