Willamette Valley Farms

Just finished a short trip through some of the local farmlands.  The skies are still hazy from the Russian smoke but not as dark as yesterday.  It is difficult for me to  always understand that phenomena.  My mission was to pick up our Iris order from Cooley's Iris Gardens and then to stop at Nanemann's on the way home for the last of the apricots for the season and a couples of boxes of berries.  Also, I enjoy riding through the Oregon mid valley farmlands this time of year.  http://www.travelsalem.com/

The awesome sight are the fields of California Oriental Poppies.  Each field is one color:  red, yellow or orange.  And, each field is in full bloom and waiting for the right time to harvest their seeds for next year sales.

The farmers are buy harvesting their 2nd crop of hay and the bales are stacking up in the fields.  I saw trucks waiting to enter the road with 2 piggyback trailers.  The vegetable crops are really green in the fields and the have begun to harvest the green beans.  The early crop of green beans never materialized this year. The first crop of corn is being harvested and two more harvests should follow. 

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I purchased also bought kotata berries http://www.oregon-berries.com/other_berries.cfmand and triple  crown blackberries.  Two more weeks and the season will be closed. I am doing my part by eating and freezing what I can.

It is 3 days before my birthday and the celebration has begun.  I love the entire birthday environment.  Gifts or no gifts it really doesn't matter.  It is the emphasis and greetings that I enjoy the most.  One of my daughter-in laws is taking me to lunch next week and then to view an Art Gallery at the Salem, Oregon Conference Center.  It will be a delightful afternoon.

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