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March is sometimes cold and wet in Yolo County, sometimes warm and sunny, and sometimes windy, clear and crisp. It's unpredictable, but the land is bursting forth with spring now. The bees are hard at work on the last of the bloom of the almond orchards which are now more green than white. The stone fruit trees, apricots, peaches and cherries, have bloomed as well, and we await the sweet pink blossoms of the occasional apple and quince trees planted in backyards and on farmsteads. The birds are singing and building their nests.
There are greener sights in Yolo County than a St. Patrick's Day four leaf clover or the orchards leafing out. The winter wheat is pushing up about a foot high. Starting in March and over the next few months, 200 million processing tomato transplants will go into Yolo County farmland and about another 9000 acres will be direct seeded. This creates a green carpet on the fields for April and May. By late summer and early fall, nearly 1,300,000 tons of tomatoes will have been harvested from the fields and sent to local tomato processors. For a special treat, come to "The Big Tomat" March 15 at the Davis Farmers Market, 10am- noon, to celebrate Yolo County's top crop – processing tomatoes.
Citrus is still being harvested, lemons, oranges, grapefruit still hang on the trees. The county's market growers' acreage is still full of cabbages, kale, sweet turnips and rutabagas, Asian greens, radicchio, and leeks. Bunches of beets, and long, slender asparagus and carrots have entered the market, along with herbs such as mint and parsley, the new olive oil and the eggs of spring chickens.
Nettles are just pushing through the ground, hinting that it is just about time for a spring tonic of nettle tea. Violet blossoms are everywhere, scenting the air and beckoning us to pick and crystallize them to adorn cupcakes for a spring dinner party.
- Vegetarian Asparagus Risotto
- Grated Carrot Salad with Chopped Parsley and Dijon Mustard Vinaigrette
- Steamed Leeks Drizzled with Olive Oil, Garnished with Chopped Egg
- Grilled Lamb Chops with Fresh Mint Jelly (or use the risotto for a vegetarian main dish)
- Young Salad Greens with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette
- Vanilla Cupcakes with Butter Cream Frosting and Crystallized Violets
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