Spring Barrel (oh so soon!) will mark
my first full year of living, and growing and learning, in the Yakima Valley. I
am coming full circle in my experience of the shift of seasons—the sun, the
weather, the food, the plants, the work—that all changes with them and is all
so distinct. (Seasons are a novel concept for a Southern Californian…)
Every time of year here is beautiful
in its own way. During summer fruit is ripe and juicy from the trees, people
are outside and energized and everywhere, and during fall, each leaf is yellow
and the sun is no longer unrelenting. During winter the snowy vines and empty
irrigation canals have a contrasting calmness that by then is welcome.
But spring, the last of the seasons
for me to experience here, is by far my favorite. It feels like nature was
secretly planning this explosion of green plants and chirping birds for a few
months now (winter, that conspiring season)… because it did explode. Suddenly the
sun is brighter and the days are longer, but best of all: the cherry trees are
blooming.
The Cherry Blossoms on the Washington
D.C. mall are beautiful, but the orchard cherry blossoms here are beautiful in
a functional way. After living and working on a farm, where hard work and
getting things done are nonnegotiable daily priorities, functionality is
beautiful in its own right. Coupled with hundreds of delicate pink blooms, on
trees perfectly lined, it’s mesmerizing. |
| Cherry Blossoms at the winery, no justice done! |
At the winery, the people are coming
back, more tasting room visitors with every day. Things are warming up and
summer is moving in (picnics and porch sitting and river floating and sun roofs,
oh my!) and I am counting down to Spring Barrel weekend (April 27 & 28) …so
I can do it all again.
See you in the tasting room!
Kelly
