February is prime orange picking time here in Healdsburg.  You can sometimes find a tree here and there, mingled amongst the vines. There is one  spot off Westside Road where a small orange grove just thrives.  I pass it whenever I’m going into town. I was kind of sad to see a fence go up a couple of years ago. Don’t worry you can still get one if you happen to be biking by. Just watch out! Someone really likes their oranges. We’re fortunate enough to have a tree on our property. Each morning we’ll brave the cold, damp air and fill up a small wire basket.  The fruit is seedless and the ripe oranges are spiked with a sharp acidity that makes eating them outright immensely pleasurable. Once we have a large batch, Emily will take down the juicer and get to work peeling and juicing. The entire house fills with orange essence. We’ll have deliciously tart orangensaft for days. Because of the acidity, we cut it with water and often add it to our morning smoothies. This year I’m thinking candied peels and some orange bitters. That may make a nice addition to Em’s Manhattan.