As Summer Ends

When the Central Valley does beautiful weather, it goes big.  The last couple days have been nearly frigid by valley standards and there was even a hint of fog on the ground this morning.  However, by afternoon, the sun was shining, the sky was a glorious blue, and fluffy clouds floated above.  I love these days.

I stopped in a local vineyard to capture today's photo.  The fruit had been stripped and the raisins, recently carried away.  The few remaining valley vineyards that have fruit are being harvested as I write.  Very soon, the vines above will drop their leaves and once again await the renewal of Spring.  As is typical for me, I'm not quite ready to give up the Summer, but I'm anxiously waiting the colors of Fall.

The Mountains I Seek

I took a little drive today.  I was looking for the lovely giants above.  Although we sometimes forget, there is a beautiful mountain range that overlooks the Central Valley.  Most of the summer it is hidden behind a wall of haze that arrives each year with the heat.  Although we have limited mountain viewing days in the valley, air quality awareness has definitely increased the number of hazeless  <I know…I know ;) word creation by Tracy.> days.

Anyway, I meandered through the haze today and found the little mountains that provide a gateway to the beautiful Sequoia National Forrest that lies beyond.  Very soon, we will have rain to clear the haze for a short while and I'm looking forward to viewing those lovelies in all their glory.

The Fresno Met – What Should Have Been

As someone who loves Fresno, I find it hard to write about the shortcomings of our great city.  There are a few occasions however, where I cannot help myself.  One of those times would be the moment I pass the building above, the one that should house a recently renovated Fresno Metropolitan Museum.  It’s at that time I become, what I call, momentarily disenchanted.

You see, I remember sitting with the staff of both the Fresno Art Museum and the Fresno Metropolitan Museum when the Met had just begun planing their renovation.  It was nearly eight years ago, during a collaborative exhibition involving three local museums, FAM, Fresno Met, and Arte Américas.  Our community was thriving at the time, and as such, the art community was experiencing better times.

After months and eventually, years, of effort involved in completing the ambitious renovation – one plagued with delays and setbacks that often accompany the transformation of a historic building, a shiny new museum emerged.  I'd love to see how it all turned out, but there it sits, a vacant shell in downtown Fresno.  I won’t go into the politics surrounding the demise of the Met.  Many people have their own opinion about what went wrong, but the fact remains, it is the Central Valley’s loss.

I can only say, each time I pass this building, I shake my head in mild frustration.  Very soon, I imagine a new name will cover this building and we can all get back to forgetting the fact that Fresno was once home to a thriving Metropolitan Museum.

Spring May Have Finally Sprung

Spring has finally arrived in the Central Valley (I think) and two Mourning Doves chose the herb garden on my patio as their choice nesting location this year.  They picked the sage, which I say means they have great herbal taste.  They have faithfully sat upon the nest for more than a week but yesterday evening they left it abandoned for a bit and I took an opportunity to carefully snap a picture of the two nestled eggs.  Me + nature = happy.  <-- Math was my best subject in school, obviously.

 I’ll be back later this week with an update on fruit growing in the valley; it’s definitely been a strange growing year due to the weather changes here and throughout the US.

Enjoy each day!

Central Valley Gloom

I can unequivocally say this has not been my favorite Central Valley winter.  There have been so many gloomy days that I've lost count.  It began with unusually high percentages of rain and now it's gray all day long.  I've started dreaming that I moved to Oregon, but no, I'm still a California Girl - minus the sun.  I stepped outside today to take a photo of hope.  Hope in the form of a fig tree bud that will bring forth new growth this spring.  I must say, I really cannot wait.

It's Raining Oranges

Throughout the Central Valley, orange trees are colored with ready-to-pick fruit and after nine months of waiting, this California native is a happy girl.  There is nothing like a glass of orange juice, fresh from the tree, so I am always a bit giddy to see this fruit come into season.  Each year, the risk of freezing conditions in the Central Valley put oranges at risk of frost damage.  Fortunately, due to a strange winter season in which water has actually fallen from the sky (or rain if you prefer), frost has been minimal.  This is great news for orange lovers near and far.  Cheers! 

Huntington Boulevard

Huntington Boulevard, located in Fresno, California has a rich history in the valley.  In the early 1900’s, Albert GravesWishon and Henry E. Huntington developed a plan to use electricity, a newly available luxury available to homeowners, and streetcars to enhance the lifestyle of Fresno’s prominent residents.  Henry E. Huntington, a streetcar tycoon, developed the boulevard with wide streets that allowed for streetcar travel to several destinations in downtown Fresno.  Today, the beautiful tree-lined boulevard is meticulously maintained and still carries the original air of regality.