It happened.
Remember when Chicken Little ran around yelling "The sky is falling! The sky is falling!"
For almond growers, beekeepers, entomologists, researchers and artists, it's "The almonds are blooming! The almonds are blooming!"
Finally, the almond trees at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at UC Davis burst into bloom today. They still have a long way to go for a full bloom--but this is a start.
These are Sue's bees.
That would be bee breeder-geneticist Susan Cobey with her line of New World Carniolians.
Her nectar-sipping, pollen-packin' bees are back in action after the winter doldrums, which are turning into spring frenzies.
Soon: the big spring buildup in the colonies.
But for now, "The almonds are blooming! The almonds are blooming!"
Oh, hap-bee day!
Attached Images:
![ALMOND BLOSSUMS at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, UC Davis, burst into bloom today. Honey bees came in twos and threes. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) ALMOND BLOSSUMS at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility, UC Davis, burst into bloom today. Honey bees came in twos and threes. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/6193.jpg)
Almond Blossoms
![HONEY BEE forages in the almond blossoms at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) HONEY BEE forages in the almond blossoms at the Harry H. Laidlaw Jr. Honey Bee Research Facility at UC Davis. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/6195.jpg)
Sip of Nectar
![MOVING like a circus performer, this honey bee scoots up and down an almond blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) MOVING like a circus performer, this honey bee scoots up and down an almond blossom. (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/6196.jpg)
Circus Antics
![UPSY DAISY--A honey bee savors an almond blossom. Bottoms up! (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey) UPSY DAISY--A honey bee savors an almond blossom. Bottoms up! (Photo by Kathy Keatley Garvey)](https://ucanr.edu/blogs/bugsquad/blogfiles/6197.jpg)
Upsy Daisy