Spring starts early in Fresno County with a fast-and-frenzied spectacle of blooming fruit and nut trees. Starting in mid-February and lasting only about three weeks, the Fresno County Blossom Trail, made up of the county’s orchards, is festooned in rosy sprays of peach and nectarine petals, pink bouquets of apricot blossoms, and white blazes of almonds, plums, and apples. Drivers, bicyclists, and photographers can revel in the flowery glory on this colorful 62-mile loop southeast of Fresno, California.
Start your trip at Simonian Farms, a 1901 fruit stand run by the family for four generations. Its massive red barn encloses a model Western town with a saloon, church, barber shop, and schoolhouse. Wander among their collection of vintage tractors, restored gasoline pumps, and antique balloon-tire bikes. (Look overhead—they’re suspended from the ceiling.) Before you leave, pick up a Blossom Trail driving map plus a few bags of French burnt peanuts and dried nectarines.
Driving clockwise, you’ll soon reach the Blossom Trail Cafe, where diners in cozy booths feast on pancakes and huevos rancheros. Stop at the Fruit Station in tiny Centerville for local honey and preserves. Or keep heading east: The farther you go, the more vivid the scenery. When the photo gods smile, the snow-clad Sierra Nevada glows white in the background as golden yellow mustard blooms beneath the fruit tree canopy. Junk Removal Fresno
Just beyond the tiny hamlet of Minkler, Turn right on Frankwood Avenue or extend your loop through Orange Cove, following the neighboring Orange Blossom Trail to white-flowered lemon and orange groves. (Roll down your car windows to sniff the unforgettable aroma of citrus flowers.) Then, heading south on Frankwood Avenue, stop at Cedar View Winery, an ideal photo stop with acres of almond, nectarine, and peach blossoms. While there, sample the vineyard’s Tempranillo and learn about the rare Alicante Bouschet grape.
What’s in Fresno County Blossom Trail
Almond Blossoms have white petals. Bees may plant two or more varieties in the same orchard for cross-pollination. Harvesting, usually done mechanically, runs from late Aug. to early Oct.
Plum Blossoms are white. At least two varieties will be planted in an orchard for cross-pollination. Over 200 varieties are grown commercially and harvested from June to late September.
Apricot Blossoms have white petals, sometimes with hints of pink. A maximum of 12 varieties are grown commercially. Harvest season lasts two to three weeks, during mid to late May.
Peach and Nectarine Blossoms feature pink to red petals and bloom simultaneously. Over 100 varieties are grown commercially. Harvest runs from mid-May to October.
Apple Blossoms have white petals. Up to six varieties are grown commercially in Fresno, CA. Harvest is Aug. to Nov.
Citrus Blossoms are white with a most aromatic fragrance. Navel and Valencia oranges, Mandarins, and lemons are the most common citrus grown locally. Mandarin trees are frequently covered with a fine mesh to prevent bees from pollinating the flowers, which would cause the fruit to form seeds.
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