Up close the almond flower has a tinge of pink. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

The beauty of spring can be fleeting. Perhaps this is why these seasonal flowers and blossoms are all the more special.

Throughout Butte County and all the other locales where almonds grow it is a sea of white sprouting from the branches. Almond blossoms tend to show themselves in February and March.

Almond orchards in Butte County are in full bloom. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

Get close enough and their aroma is faint, but sweet.

It’s not uncommon for locals (and others) to take a drive through the area this time of year to enjoy Mother Nature’s glory. Cyclists also find these routes to be glorious.

Spring is when orchards are most beautiful. (Image: Kathryn Reed)

More than 40,000 acres in Butte County are planted with almonds.

As a commodity, almonds ranked No. 2 in Butte County in 2020 with a value of more than $147 million. Rice topped the list at more than $179 million, and walnuts were third at more than $128 million.