I happens slow… until it happens fast.  With the record heat we’ve had the last couple weeks, the almond trees are really moving fast.  I usually expect first bloom tho occur on about the 14th of February, but this year it looks like it is going to be about five days early.

This is a great picture to see the progression of the blossom from swollen bud to full bloom.  If you look close, you can see all the stages.  So far, the weather looks good for strong bee activity so that should not be a limiting factor.  The two things that I am concerned about is that the bloom is going to be over very fast because of the heat and a cold snap that is in the forecast for next week brings freezing temperatures which would cause the tree to abort the blooms and young almonds.  Only time will tell.