Two groups with something very definitely in common — nature itself — have blended talents this year in promoting the 55th Annual Hood River Blossom Festival.
    The Hood River County Chamber of Commerce and the Columbia Gorge Earth Center are working together this year to celebrate the arrival of the fruit blossoms and Earth Day in the Hood River Valley.

What a fitting partnership it is.

“Blossom Fest is the ultimate Earth Day experience, celebrating the arrival of spring and the new growing season,” said Jamel Badrieh, marketing coordinator for the Hood River County Chamber of Commerce.

This valley is the largest pear-growing region in Oregon, producing 50 percent of the nation’s winter pear crop, so it’s both practical and poetic for the two groups to present their events in unison.

Details of Earth Day Events can be found on page A1, and we point readers to the expansive Panorama special section inside today’s paper.

Panorama includes all schedule details and information about events and attractions coming later this spring and summer. Also inside are articles and photos by and about the people and history of this scenic valley.

The Fruit Loop, home to the Blossom Festival, features more than 25 different venues with fun activities for people of all ages and interests including farm stands with fresh fruit and homemade baked goods; shows of arts, crafts and quilts shows; breakfasts and farm dinners, a homemade pie-eating contest; lavender and alpaca farms, and even a scenic railroad to ride upon.

The festival’s main stars — the beautiful pink and white fruit-tree blossoms — are beginning to emerge in most areas.

No matter what stage you find the blossoms, it is a sure thing that the fruit is on the way and another season of bounty will happen starting in July with peaches and cherries, followed by the many varieties of apples and pears in August, September and October.

Yes, it all happens with the help of plenty of hard work by farmers, and Blossom Fest is also a good time to stop and ponder the vital role played by the Hood River agriculture industry — growers, packers, shippers, and others.

But anticipating the bloom itself, the natural rite of spring, is a gratifying exercise in hope. We welcome visitors to the valley and encourage local residents to go out and sample all that this abundant community has to offer.

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There will be plenty to eat during the festival, so if you care to work off those calories in advance, consider taking part in the first-ever 5K or 10K run/walk for adults and half-mile run/walk for kids, Saturday morning at 9 a.m.