Western Railroad Discussion > Creeping through the flower fields of stock.

-The Lompoc Local with one empty hopper in tow headed for Imerys Minerals at the end of the White Hills Branch.
-Return trip with two loads heading for the main line at Surf and eventually Guadalupe.
-The Lompoc Valley used to be the capital of flower seed for the World, but production is dwindeling. The combination of no rain, salty buildups in the soil and cheaper labor south, 1000's of miles south has really hurt this Central Coast industry. South America and Chile have become top with a simular climate and undamed water. Also most people dont buy seed anymore, they generally buy plants from a nursery. Most everything grown here now is for cut flowers. Albiet not the endless acres of flowers of the past, there still are beautiful plots if timed right.

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Ooooooh..... Those are beautiful photos!  I know very little
about the Lompoc Local.  Such pretty flowers!

Nice pair, thanks for the share.

Kent in CArmel Valley

In years gone by, one of the prettiest place on the face of the earth....

Marty Harrison
Knob Noster, MO

Very nice.

Ryan

Great photos. I really like #1.

Ronda Thomas

SPgoletablock Wrote:
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> -The Lompoc Local with one empty hopper in tow
> headed for Imerys Minerals at the end of the White
> Hills Branch.
> -Return trip with two loads heading for the main
> line at Surf and eventually Guadalupe.
> -The Lompoc Valley used to be the capital of
> flower seed for the World, but production is
> dwindeling. The combination of no rain, salty
> buildups in the soil and cheaper labor south,
> 1000's of miles south has really hurt this Central
> Coast industry. South America and Chile have
> become top with a simular climate and undamed
> water. Also most people dont buy seed anymore,
> they generally buy plants from a nursery. Most
> everything grown here now is for cut
> flowers. Albiet not the endless acres of flowers
> of the past, there still are beautiful plots if
> timed right.

Chile?  May I ask where?  We have little to no water down here.