Bloomsday 2010 in Palisade, Colorado

The little orchard town of Palisade, Colorado, is ready to blossom! With the arrival of warmer weather, Palisade’s spring season – and the growing season, is beginning to take shape. Apricot trees are in the initial stages of bloom. Peach trees are projected to be in full bloom by the third week in April.

According to the Colorado State University Research Center on Orchard Mesa, (a short drive from the Wine Country Inn), a colder winter has delayed blossoms this year. Warmer and cooler temperatures can accelerate or delay fruit blossoms. Below are projected full-bloom dates for the various types of fruit trees within Palisade area orchards:

• Apricots are projected to be in full bloom April 15.
• Redhaven and Elberta Peaches are projected to be in full bloom April 21.
• Bing Sweet Cherries are projected to be in full bloom April 28.
• Bartlett Pears are projected to be in full bloom April 27.
• Prune/Plums are projected to be in full bloom April 29.
• Tart Cherries are projected to be in full bloom May 4.
• Red Delicious Apples are projected to be in full bloom May 6.

"Last year, the blooms were about three weeks earlier,” said Carol Zadrozny, owner of Z’s Orchards. “We’ve had a colder than average winter and cooler spring temperatures which have delayed the fruit growing season.”

Specific blossom dates will vary from Palisade to East Orchard Mesa in Western Colorado’s Grand Valley.

“The variety of blossoms will give our valley wonderful pastels of color,” said Zadrozny.

Interested individuals can follow projected bloom dates on the C.S.U Research Center’s website at http://www.colostate.edu/programs/wcrc/pubs/research_outreach/budswcrcom.pdf.