Spring arrives in the Santa Clara Valley with the first apricot blossoms, often appearing in late February or early March. Delicate white flowers pop open along bare branches—some pure white, others lightly blushed depending on the variety, each centered with a soft green eye.
Soon cherries follow like tiny clouds of white and pale blush, followed by peaches, nectarines, and plums in deeper shades of rose and coral. When the breeze moves through stone fruit orchards, petals drift through the air and fall to the ground like snow.
Not long ago, more than 100,000 acres of orchards covered the Santa Clara Valley. Apricots—especially the fragrant Blenheim—were the valley’s most revered fruit, surrounded by vast orchards of plums, cherries, peaches, and other stone fruits that made spring blossom tour maps and watch parties a real thing.
Weekenders and locals followed maps of driving routes through miles of flowering orchards, all part of the spectacle that earned the region its name: the Valley of Heart’s Delight.
Today only a small but remarkable network of working commercial stone fruit orchards remains—some historically preserved, others sustained by long-standing family farms.
While some of today’s blossom tours remain scenic drives, some of today’s orchards offer new ways to experience the season, from nearby walking paths to museum grounds and farm stands where preserved fruit and orchard treats help sustain growers through the year.
A Bloomtime Guide to Santa Clara Valley Orchards
Here are a few places where the valley’s blossoms hint at the flavors to come—and where supporting local growers and orchardists helps keep these remarkable orchards growing.
Many of the valley’s remaining orchards grow the historic Blenheim apricot, once the region’s signature fruit. Some orchards focus on apricots with several varietals, while others—like Andy’s Orchard—grow Blenheim alongside a remarkable diversity of stone fruits.
Andy’s Orchard — Half Road, Morgan Hill Master orchardist Andy Mariani, widely recognized across California for rare stone fruit cultivation, propagation, and sales, grows more than 200 rare stone fruit varieties of apricots, peaches, plums, cherries, and nectarines. Visit the farm store year-round | Signup for summer tasting events (signups start in April) and featured picks.
Novakovich Orchards — Multiple locations, Saratoga Renowed family orchards of Saratoga preserving historic Blenheim apricot trees and other stone fruit. During bloom the pale blossoms line quiet valley rows and peaks from the street—experienced only as a scenic drive-by. Offered through local markets.
Sunnyvale Heritage Orchard — Sunnyvale Heritage Park This working, historic apricot orchard beside the Sunnyvale Heritage Park includes orchard barn and small store/stand and is stewarded by orchardist Charlie Olson, of local cherry and apricot fame, and preserves the valley’s celebrated Blenheim apricot. Visitors can walk around the periphery of the orchard and visit the barn where fresh and preserved fruits are available. | Summer fruits sold through the barn and local markets.
Los Altos Heritage Orchard — Civic Center, Los Altos A rare intact historic Valley orchard farmstead of Blenheim apricots—with a historic preserved working commercial orchard, barn, grounds, and the original J. Gilbert Smith House and barn —preserved as local landmarks and a California State Historical Point of Interest. Visitors can walk the apricot rows at the Civic Center, and visit the barn and museum for interpretative orchard memorabilia year-round. | Fruit sold annually through DeMartini Orchards market and farmstand in Los Altos.
Saratoga Heritage Orchard — Saratoga A working community orchard designated as historic by the City of Saratoga where historic Blenheim apricot trees bloom each spring. The blossoms echo Saratoga’s long tradition of celebrating the season through its historic Blossom Festival, a cherished part of the town’s agricultural heritage. Nearby paths allow visitors to stroll beside the orchard and experience one of the valley’s most intimate, and well kept blossom and fruit growing settings. The City of Saratoga determines how the fruit is harvested and distributed each year, currently with the help of the Orchard Keepers.
