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Spring in the Mid-Columbia officially arrived a week ago, and it marks a wonderfully beautiful time of year in the region, especially in the desert. With only six to 12 inches of rain a year and 300 days of sunshine, it is very, very different from that of western Washington State, where rainfall totals can add up to (or greatly exceed) 50 inches. It is no small wonder that more and more west-siders are coming to Eastern Washington for recreation and a change in lifestyle.
While much of the year offers the stark beauty of the Mid-Columbia valley, springtime offers special splendor as the desert begins to bloom. From the thousands and thousands of fruit trees that flower with bee-inviting hues to the phlox that covers the hillsides for a few weeks, this valley is unique in its richness and diversity of flora and colors during spring. These brilliant colors paint the desert floor from Yakima to Moses Lake, Walla Walla, Goldendale, and everywhere in between. The area just comes alive with rich shades and the energy of spring. It is a magical time as the desert blooms.
With much of the region still rich in agricultural land, Mid-Columbia residents are blessed with apple, cherry, peach, plum, and other fruit orchards that deliver tasty ripened produce from June through September. Now with the rapidly growing wine industry, many once-barren hillsides are now planted with wine varietals that were, at one time, only found in France. Today, however, as spring approaches, these relatively young vineyards turn hillsides green as vines stretch out and irrigation transforms arid land into high-yield acreage.
In this issue of Mid-Columbian, we endeavor to share the beauty of this area with you through our authors’ words, and as we see it through our camera lenses. We want to reveal some of the rugged but rich history of the area in articles such as those about Ben Snipes and the state’s oldest private bank, Baker Boyer. These pieces explain how adventurous pioneers capitalized on the promise of this desert region and the needs of those who settled here.
What was once an unforgiving, if not forbidding, area is now transformed through water, energy, and transportation into a region that welcomes visitors and amply provides for residents. It offers jobs, recreation, entertainment, and lifestyles that continue to attract newcomers. A perfect example is in this issue with the article Orchidaceae, revealing the secrets of an orchidist who found that relocating to Walla Walla advantaged his business and family in multiple ways. Not to mention it positioned his home near one of the best little restaurants in the northwest, CreekTown Café, which we share as our restaurant story in this issue.
One of our recreation articles, Riding the Spiral Highway, is not surprisingly my favorite for this issue as I enjoy riding motorcycles. This article, along with its stunning photos, confides to readers the route and insider’s secrets for one of the best rides in the country. Combined with great weather, this ride is a temptation no motorcyclist can resist.
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