A14 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
FROM PAGE A1
WEDNESDAY, JULY 13, 2016
MELONS:
continued from Page A1
are desert plants, which
take in heat during the
day to produce sugar as
a source of energy.
Not only are the days
hot enough for melons
around Hermiston, but
cooler nights slow down
the respiration process
which allows the plants
to retain all that sugar.
Light, sandy soils also al-
low water to ilter down
deep to plant’s roots. The
result is a sweet and juicy
summertime treat.
Jack Bellinger, of
Bellinger
Farms
in
Hermiston, said they
started cutting melons off
the vine last week, which
are now available at their
bistro on South Highway
395 and local produce
stands. He said they’ll
start shipping to stores
across the Northwest lat-
er this week, including
the Portland and Seattle
metro areas.
The growing season
this year has been hit
and miss, Bellinger said,
with some weeks top-
ping out around 65 de-
grees and others reaching
triple-digits. That type
of variation can inter-
rupt watermelons while
they’re growing, but he
anticipates the crop will
fare well over the next
couple months.
“The quality looks
really good,” Bellinger
said. “We’re cutting re-
ally solid watermelons
right now.”
STAFF PHOTOS BY TAMMY MALGESINI
Above: Alivia Wadkins, 5, Jake Wadkins, 5, Ariel Wadkins,
8, Aubrianna Wadkins, 8, and Kyle Ball, 10, enjoy Hawaiian
shaved ice Saturday during Funfest.
Kids reach out to high-ive drivers during the Outlaw Lawn-Dragsters races Saturday during
Funfest.
A number of people gather around a 1929 Ford Sedan
owned by Gary Jones at Saturday’s Cool Rides Car Show at
McKenzie Park in Hermiston.
FUN:
bears and moose to owls
and bald eagles — in-
cluding several elaborate
continued from Page A1
The
Outlaw
Lawn-Dragsters out of
New Plymouth, Idaho,
brought their high-pow-
ered mowers to Main
Street. Kids lining the
race lanes plugged their
ears to muffle the high-
pitched scream from the
engines. However, they
quickly reached out their
hands to high-five drivers
as they made their way
back to the pit area.
At the other end of
Main
Street,
several
chainsaw carvers added
to the high decibel lev-
els. Using logs, the artists
created everything from
benches.
“It’s just a fun day,”
Pedro said.
Summer Gift s
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