White Flowering Almond (Prunus glandulosa 'Alba Plena') Here are some more images from my brief spring morning walk after the rains. The White Flowering Almond always catches my eye when it is in bloom. Here we have one bush left un-pruned in the row in our cutting wood orchard. A whole row (hedge) of these bushes is quite spectacular. Budwood Orchard Row of Flowering Almonds Walking a little bit east down the same row, we…

Prairifire Flowering Crabapple On Monday I escaped the office to take a photo break. After months of harvest, shipping, new catalog preparation, sales training and copious rain, it was time to enjoy the sun and flowers. I was only out 40 minutes and shot 156 photos (52 x 3 bracketed). This is a seriously beautiful time of year in our budwood orchards. And the photographic light was special with retreating dark clouds and the sun…

It's Sunday morning and this is a nice sight: Loaded trucks ready to roll (6 photo panorama stitched together - the original photo is huge) A week ago at noon on Saturday we completed harvest. After the 30 minute lunch break, we started to pull orders to load trucks. And yes it was a scramble in the office to complete prorates, print pull sheets and get the first line up to the shipping yard in…

I found it hard to focus (the camera on the trees of course) when the day is so nice as this. Trees in sand beds ready to pull for shipping. I took the opportunity to escape the "War Room" where we line up and route all the trucks. I needed to rush some last minute order additions to the yard to pull for today's loads. Yes - we do add to your order right up…

Every season has its attractions to a photographer, but fall usually is one of our favorites.  The reds, golds and yellows displayed in nature attest to the creative side of God for our pleasure.  Many of you live in absolutely stunning areas where fall color is rampant and even the travel industry thrives catering to the "leaf peepers". And a lot of us live in a more subdued environment where we are tickled when we…

  I just returned yesterday from a marvelous two week sales trip into central Texas (roughly covering from San Antonio to Fort Worth).  Now, to be honest, I have only been to Texas in August - always tied in with the annual TNLA trade show.  My impressions had always been, let's politely say, uncomfortable.  Hot and humid. Well, my impressions have changed mightily.  What a pretty state!!!  Lush green, rampant wildflowers and comfortable weather -…

At last!  The long days and nights to finish the 2010-11 catalog are over.  It is at the printer's and we will begin mailing it out this week.  Now I have a little more time to enjoy the blessings of spring. Prairifire Flowering Crabapples and California Poppies outside my office window (trying unsuccessfully to hide the irrigation pumps) The last 2 weeks the sales staff spent a lot of time in our annual training.  Part…

What's wrong with me? This has become one of the most beautiful springs with desperately needed storms creating dramatic, picturesque skies and the blossoms bursting out all over - and here I am missing it all! Red Baron Fruiting/Flowering Peach - Illuminated by flash It is the time of the year where I am hunkered down in the office day and night wrapping up this season and preparing for next season. Heavy time is spent…

Two Saturdays ago (11/14/09) I took my camera for a walk through one of our fruit tree production fields. This is a two year field with one year tops. Here is some of what I saw - a very pleasing field even for my critical eye. The first section is in the Cherry block.Bing Cherries - Standard Semi-Dwarf Black Tartarian Cherries Black Tartarian Cherries - Standard Montmorency Cherries Rainier Cherries - StandardSemi-Dwarf Cherry Block Semi-Dwarf…

  The Autumn Blaze Flowering Pear happens to be my favorite of the Calleryana Pears.  This photo simply shows why. On the left is Aristocrat Flowering Pear and the colorful row on the right is Autumn Blaze.  It colors up magnificently every year - both in the cold winter areas but also in the mild winter areas like San Diego.  It's fall colors are the earliest and the best of the pears that we grow…