First signs of walnuts in the orchard!

They are here! Lots of doubles and triples. You can see the female flowers at right, as compared to a penny. The swollen base of the flower is where the nut will develop. Right now, they are smaller than President Lincoln's head. It will be a while before they really look like the green walnuts that we quarter, then cook, macerate, bake or pickle.....

"Behold, my friends, the spring is come; the earth has gladly received the embraces of the sun, and we shall soon see the results of their love!" ~ Sitting Bull

Big Time Mowing

BEFORE ~ Grass & Lupine. Lots of whirlygigs that stick in your socks and on the dogs fur. It sure is foxtail season. The grass stands about 3 feet tall in the highest places. It's still a little damp. Hardest part about mowing is putting the mowing attachment on the back of the tractor. A call to cousin Gino Klare and he was there lickity split to help us out. We learn something new from him ALL the time.

DURING ~ That's Xavier Jackson Macy on the Kubota. He is a GREAT ranch hand. (And I'm not just saying that because he's my nephew and godson.) Whatever needs doing, he volunteers to do it. He's a real gem and a hard worker to boot.


AFTER ~ This photo is taken looking north, towards the canyon leading down to the Middle Fork of the Cosumnes River. It looks so nice. Rain in the forecast, guess we'll be mowin' again!

I see skies of blue....clouds of white, bright blessed days.... dark sacred nights

and I think to myself, what a wonderful world! It's so lovely outside. Deer hiding in the tall grass jumped as I walked across the deck this morning. A healthy young fox rummaging through debris on the burn pile, scampered away as soon as he saw me. A multitude of birds sang from the nearly bare branches throughout the orchard.

The walnut trees have a distinct red hue right now. The fresh new leaves emerge in a reddish brown burst and they will gradually transition to green. So far there are no signs of green walnuts. I believe this is the latest spring we've had in the past several years, but perhaps we say that every year! The grass is growing vigorously beneath the trees. I will have to use the tractor with the mower attachment to get it mowed down. I can't wait. It will smell so good and green!

“The farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn't still be a farmer.” - Will Rogers

It's time to get ready for our green walnut harvest. Though actual harvesting won't begin for a while, I've promised our customers that I would keep them informed of our progress here on my blog. The picture on the left shows the walnut catkins in early to middle April. They somewhat resemble miniature pine cones at this stage, only 1 inch in length. The picture on the far right was taken just days ago, April 28th. Notice the cluster of male catkins. They are about three inches long and bear a large number of closely packed, minute developing flowers.

When asked the question, "When can we order?" or "How many pounds will we be able to put up online at our LocalHarvest storefront?" I have to answer, "it depends." My El Dorado County Master Gardener friends will understand the significance of that answer! It didn't look like the catkins were ready to release pollen and the female flowers weren't yet fully developed, so the recent rains and cold weather probably didn't compromise pollination. Will Rogers was right. We are optimists.