Boxes of bees are moved into a cherry orchard at Filice Farms.

Blossoms make themselves at home
As a patch of wet weather passed and with evening frosts mostly
gone, tress all around San Benito County are starting to blossom.
Cherry blossoms are the harbingers of spring, even before the
season officially starts, according to calendars.
Blossoms make themselves at home

As a patch of wet weather passed and with evening frosts mostly gone, tress all around San Benito County are starting to blossom. Cherry blossoms are the harbingers of spring, even before the season officially starts, according to calendars.

Cherry trees are displaying bouquets of white flowers on their branches. Filice Farms on Fairview Road has row after row of blossoming trees. The orchard has been there for 15 years, said Mark Wright, farming manager for Filice Farms.

The orchard is about 113 acres and contains tens of thousands of cherry trees, he said.

Although many of the trees have blossoms, several green leaves are visible throughout. As the plant matures the green leaves will push off the blossoms, making room for the sweet fruit.

The trees will yield fruit in June, Wright said.

In the meantime, activity is buzzing at Filice Farms – literally. Bees arrived Mar. 14 to take part in the pollination process. They are kept in boxes that they sleep in at night. During the day, they are busy going from tree to tree.

“They love this warm weather,” Wright said.

The farm owned by the Rajkovich Brothers on Bolsa Road, which ships cherries under the name Fairhaven Orchard, has cherry trees in many states of bloom.

They had not received their bees yet, despite having placed orders with three places, George Rajkovich said.

“They [the bees] have been slow coming out of the almonds this year,” he said.

Apricot trees have also begun to bloom though their blossoms are not as numerous as the cherry blossoms.

Rebecca Dominguez has enjoyed the apricot trees that grow on the land of the house she has been renting for two years. Her daughters, especially three-year-old Jillian Dominguez enjoy spending time outside among the trees.

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A staff member wrote, edited or posted this article, which may include information provided by one or more third parties.

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