The pears, apples, and cherries are in bloom, and a simple drive down any side road (or main highways, for that matter) presents a vivid display of the floral stage of fruit in development.

On Tuesday morning, in an orchard in the center of the valley, residents saw a starkly beautiful sight: trees laden with icicles.

This was not some freak ice storm descending during a moonlit night: this was an intentional act by experienced orchardists who took steps to protect the tender fruit buds from damage by the frost. Temperatures dipped as low as 25 degrees in the Parkdale area before dawn Tuesday.

Knowing that farmers intentionally cover some of their trees with ice to insulate them from cold underscores two things:

First, the year-round need for water in Hood River Valley farms. A significant concern from the November 2006 storms was the damage to irrigation districts’ pipelines and other infrastructure.

Second, ice-bound trees are an example of what everyone can learn about orchard practices: actually spraying water in the trees to prevent damage seems counterintuitive. But in certain places, with certain sections, or “blocks,” of orchards, the growers know it must be done.