Spring Amidst the Orchards

Spring has arrived in the Kammanassie valley, and we have been awed and inspired by the loveliness of this season. Because we are living among the orchards, we've had the enormous privilege to watch the fruit trees' stunning blossoms emerge and I've taken many pictures. This post includes mainly snow white plum blossoms, light pink apricot orchards and pink peach trees. So turn your face towards the sky, take a breath, and smile. Here follows some flowers to celebrate the beauty of a new beginning.

First comes the buds.... 

Apricot buds.

Plum buds. 

Then the blossoms explode.

 Apricot orchards... 

Plum orchards...

Peach orchards...

Late Summer Fruit Harvests (Plums and Figs)

Here on the farm, we have been observing the harvesting seasons of fruits, mainly plums and figs. It has been amazing being able to see directly where the food comes from, and how hand intensive the entire process is.

 Plums everywhere.

Right in front of our house is a plum orchard, and during January we often heard the tractor spraying insecticide on the plum trees. 

At six in the morning...

 Whoosh!

Walking past the orchard and seeing the fruit ripening daily is special, and when in early February groups of workers started harvesting (in a similar way to harvesting peaches), we went to take a look. 

Ripening plums. 

The trees are literally covered in purple. 

 Teams of plum pickers.