the orchards begin west of Chico and extend to the Sacramento River, neat rows of almonds, walnuts, prunes, pistachios and Asian pears. the trees are lacy white, lavender, pink in spring and bright green in summer.

blossoms scattered in the wind

bees kept in white boxes

the sun sweet like honey wine and
the red covered bridge in the canyon

an economy that relies on migrant workers, the Depression-era Okies who left their mark on the regional accent (I’m from the valley and you can hear it in my voice), the guest workers from Mexico, called braceros or working arms, a program operated by the U.S. Department of Labor from 1942 to 1964, and even now many farms are worked by undocumented aliens from Central America and Mexico.

the beekeeper wears a mask and gloves when he works

this town was settled by the children of migrant workers