Pistachio Groves in Winter

 

It was a long drive home from San Francisco on Monday. Started by 6:15 am. It was still dark outside. Streaks of red began to slowly make an appearance between the grey clouds as I approached San Leandro. It remained foggy for most part of the four hours drive home. 

Both ways on the travel to SF I had seen groves of pistachio trees flanking the freeway. There was a rustic charm to the bare trunks and branches as they stood on the ground covered with dried foliage. At various turns I was tempted to stop and capture their beauty on my camera but I had to resist. Finally after I came home I called my trusted friend to ask if she would be interested to explore a nearby pistachio farm. She agreed. Even the nearest pistachio grove was nearly 20 miles from my home. The sky remained overcast but the fog had disappeared by afternoon. We enjoyed the half hour or so walking through the browned foliage amidst the barren trees, taking pictures. There were quite a few bunches of pistachios from the last harvest strewn across the grounds and some left behind on the trees. We gathered a few before driving back. In another grove nearby there were farm workers pruning the trees getting them ready for the next season. 

Passing the rural landscape we saw some sheep grazing on a farm. They seemed curious initially but soon panicked and hurried away as we approached closer.

A short but beautiful drive it proved. In a couple of months the landscape will get a makeover. Spring shall have arrived with her paint brushes. Yet, one cannot dismiss the unique beauty of the landscape in winter. There is always something fascinating to see around here. Living in the moment becomes a habit. 

Saree for this outing was a tussar from Chhattisgarh. The coffee colored body is complemented by a rust border and a bit more brighter orange pallu. Floral ikat work is seen in the borders and pallu. Tiny buttis are scattered across the body. 

Such is the finesse of handlooms that it is difficult to identify the front vs back side of a woven fabric. That’s exactly what happened with this one. I noticed as I changed out of the saree that it’s fall has been stitched on the front side instead of reverse side of the lower border. Can’t blame the tailor. I had failed to notice it the whole time I was wearing the saree! The buttis gave out the secret as I ironed the saree.