Freewrite Day 356 Orange Blossom

I used to live in South Florida and I am very familiar with orange blossoms. I have driven past orange groves when they are in bloom many times.

You do not just get one orange blossom when they are in bloom. One orange tree blooming is one thing, the tree is very pretty and looks nothing like it will look with leaves and oranges on it later.

Orange blossoms are not orange, and give no indication of the fruit they will become. They are tiny and white as you can see in this stolen search image:

And here are some close ups of the flowers in bloom.

But you are not getting one tree or one flower in "orange grove country" of the middle of the State of Florida in the spring in the us. Instead you will drive through miles upon miles of blooming orange trees which can knock you out for the count.

We lived south of where oranges grow in great numbers, and my ex-husband’s family lived north of there. Also, Tampa, Orlanda, Daytona, and St Augustine take you past the groves if you come from the south and a visit to Disney World or Sea World will take you there too.

We liked to take our weekend trips back then. If we drove up north during the weeks the orange trees were in bloom, it was going to be a highly scented ride.

You would not think such a tiny flower would give such a powerful kick. But the scent of one billion orange blossoms is cloying mile after mile, and can give you a headache if you are sensitive to it. Luckily neither of us were, but at a certain point of smelling these things, you are ready for a break and you cannot get one. The orange trees are going to smell/stink until you drive out of that area.

Some groves smell more strongly that others and a wave of stronger scent would hit you in the face at times.

If you buy orange blossom honey it smells like the blossoms. Imagine that!

And if you have experienced orange blossoms in person and you get a freewrite prompt to remind you, you can smell them again even though it has been thirty years and you are on the other side of the world in Malaysia!

My post is for the #freewrite daily challenge by @mariannewest. Freewrite is a great way to post on steemit when you do not think you have the time, or talent, or anything to say. I know you can do this too! Here is Marianne’s freewrite prompt post for today. Give it a try and surprise yourself.