Spring is Here

No, these trees are not covered in frost, snow, or ice.

Spring has officially arrived here in Bakersfield, and the almond groves are blooming.

This almond grove is about 8 blocks to the north of our apartment complex. The smell from the trees is sometimes almost overpowering. It is one of those flower smells that is nice faint but almost suffocating when in strength.

As I was driving home from taking pictures of the almonds I saw this tree branch hanging over a brick fence. I stopped and took some shots and was pleasantly surprised by how nice they turned out. Our cheap camera once in awhile really takes nice pictures.


Spring in Bakersfield also brings rain storms. The storms don't seem to put much water down and rarely have lightning and thunder (big disappointment compared to the Vegas rain storms). It also is really windy and LOTS of dirt blows around. The other night Natalie and I went to a surprise birthday party of our friend Shelly Carter (Happy 50th), and there was so much dirt blowing that it was drifting and visibility was reduced almost as much as a blizzard. One of the great things about blowing dirt in Bakersfield is Valley Fever. So now whenever one of us has any sort of ailment (fever, cough, sore leg, cut finger, etc.) we blame it on Valley Fever.