Another Spring in the Life of Anderson Almonds: All Attention on Blooms, Bees and Weather

Spring is a season full of promise and change, especially for those of us who live and work on a family farm. At Anderson Almonds, the arrival of bloom time is a moment we eagerly await every year. This year, the blooms started popping out right on schedule, painting the orchard with delicate white and pink flowers. But the weather had other plans. A stretch of wet and cool days kept our busy bees tucked away in their hives during some of the most critical pollination period. Now, we watch and wait, hoping the old growth almond trees will still reward us with a good harvest.

A bee gracefully lands on delicate white blossoms in full bloom, set against a lush backdrop of greenery in Anderson Almonds Orchard in spring, March 2026

How Weather Shapes Pollination Success

Pollination is the heart of almond farming. Without it, the flowers won’t turn into nuts. Bees are the main pollinators for almond trees, and their activity depends heavily on weather conditions. Warm, dry, and sunny days encourage bees to fly out and collect pollen. But when the weather turns cool, wet or windy, bees stay inside their hives, keeping warm and dry.

This spring, the unpredictable weather meant fewer bees out in the orchard during a good portion of the peak bloom cycle, potentially reducing the number of blossoms pollinated and affecting how many almonds we harvest later this year.

The Role of Old Growth Trees in Weather Challenges

Our orchard includes many old growth almond trees, some of which have been producing for decades. These trees have deep roots and a strong presence in the landscape, but they are not immune to the challenges of weather. Older trees can sometimes handle stress better because of their established root systems, but they still need good pollination to produce a strong crop.

This year, the combination of timely blooms and poor weather really tested these giants. We noticed that some branches held onto their flowers a little longer during the cooler, unsettled stretch, as if waiting for better bee flying conditions. But that doesn’t necessarily stretch pollination time. In fact, it can have the opposite effect. When the weather finally clears, a lot of blooms become receptive all at once, bees rush to work, and pollination has to happen in a shorter burst. Even though the flowers may be visible longer, the real pollination window — when blooms are receptive, pollen is viable, and bees are actively flying — can get squeezed into just a handful of good days.

We’re hopeful the bees were eagerly active once the sky cleared, but only time will tell.

Old and young almond trees in Anderson Almonds' orchard, March 2026. Older trees still topped with almond blossoms while younger trees are filled with new green leaves, their bloom petals fallen into the lush green cover crop below.

Looking Ahead: What This Means for Harvest

Nature has its own rhythm. As temperatures rise and the sun returns, the almond trees will continue their growth cycle, and we’ll see how many nuts develop. It’s a waiting game, but one filled with hope.

This experience also encourages us to think about how our family farm can adapt to changing weather patterns. For now, we appreciate the beauty of the orchard in spring with gratitude for whatever our bee friends have been able to help us grow this year.

Beehives nestled next to the Anderson Almonds 100 year old wooden barn, surrounded by lush green cover crop and old growth almond trees still holding some blossoms.