Historic Hood River
Blossom Time
4-2-2015
Notes
I believe that’s Floyd Mason and his mother Ollie inspecting the apple blossoms at their orchard in Pine Grove.
The History Museum of Hood River County
Bringing the Rich History of Hood River County to Life
Steve r
And a family dog …
L.E.
That flaw (I think) in the photo looks like broken sprinkler pipe.
The amount of labor that went into turning the HR Valley into orchards is mind boggling. The trees that had to be removed. And they weren’t just cut down, they had to be removed. The stumps that had to be removed and then all of the roots.
Working the ground up into a tillable soil, gradually removing all rocks and left over roots, then planting hundreds of trees in straight rows and "nursing" them in their growth to producing a marketable fruit.
Planting hundreds of strawberry plants amongst the young fruit trees so there was a marketable crop while waiting for the trees to produce.
Digging irrigation ditches.
Oh my aching back just thinking about it.
But now, during this time of year, the valley is famous for its beauty of blossoms.
L.E.
Did early orchards in Pine Grove use ditch irrigation?
And if they did, what was the water source?
Charlott
I don’t know about early irrigation, but I remember prior to sprinklers our orchards having "rills." The water ran down through them. This naturally was after the irrigation ditch had been established on the east side of the valley.
Arthur
I think L.E. is right about the white shadow being related to irrigation. In the original photo I can see a small hose or pipe leading up to that point.
Kenn
This warm spring makes me wonder if this is the time to visit and see the valley in full bloom.
nels
Kenn the lower valley is absolute full bloom the past few days. Awesome. And sunshine today but maybe showers the rest of the week.
judy
It is funny, I think, that most of the family pictures that are on display at the Museum, have the family dog in the picture. My son and myself took our own "Blossom Tour" last week end. BEAUTIFUL!
Jeffrey Bryant
What I remember most about Blossom Day is the smorgasbord at the Pine Grove Grange.
Jeffrey Bryant
Here is the link to an article concerning the first Blossom Festival in 1912.
https://oregonnews.uoregon.edu/lccn/sn97071110/1912-04-11/ed-1/seq-1/