Almonds in bloom had been covered with snow

WHEN the first flakes scudded past the window at lunch time, I thought they were almond blossom petals drifting on the wind.

Then, I saw that they were flakes of snow, swirling in eddies and blown every which-way as they crossed the bumps and falls in the garden. In one place, they were carried straight up in pirouettes, like tiny cabbage white butterflies in a courting dance.

An hour later, the whole landscape was white, and when we went out, we saw that the almonds that had bloomed were snow covered, so I don’t know how they’ll fare come spring and the fruiting season — or nutting season, as would be the case.