Chickens, ducks, goats and miniature horses hung out under the apricot trees. Docents led tours along the orchard trails. Antique cars and farm equipment were on display. Arts and crafts displays were set up on the lawns of the traditional orchard house, behind which were tents where Paul Conrado and friends served up homemade wine for tasting.

"I don't know how they order up such beautiful weather every year," Councilwoman Kathleen King said.

The Mustard Walk, a celebration of Saratoga's orchards and agrarian past, was held concurrently for the first time with a lunar new year celebration in the Saratoga Community Center, a short walk away from the Warren Hutton House and Central Park.

The Saratoga Community Center was decked out in the red colors of the Chinese new year as event-goers lined up for free egg rolls, chow mein, pot stickers and tea. On the stage, students from Saratoga schools sang Chinese songs and performed traditional Chinese dances. Mah-jongg games, Chinese yo-yos, tai chi and kung fu demonstrations were all part of the celebration.

George Chu, who moved to Saratoga two years ago from Taiwan, said he had come out for the lunar new year celebration because his two children had volunteered to help out at the event. "I'm surprised this many people came," he said. Chu said he had also checked out the Mustard Walk. He said that although he saw mostly Asians at the lunar new year celebration and mostly Caucasians at the Mustard Walk, he hoped the two events would continue to coincide in the future. "I think it's good for the community. Hopefully, [the lunar new year celebration] will become an annual event."

"I think it's a wonderful idea to bridge East and West," Vice Mayor Aileen Kao said.

Saratogans Phylis Ballingall and Cynthia Chang came up with the idea to combine the two events. Kao said that having the lunar new year celebration the same day as the Mustard Walk was a good way to bring Saratoga's various cultures together and give its growing Asian community the opportunity to learn about the history of the city before it became part of the Silicon Valley economy.

Back in front of the Warren Hutton House, Bill Traill, a member of the Early Day Gas Engine and Tractor Association, said there seemed to be a larger crowd this year than last year. Traill was standing in front of an Ostenberg Gas Engine, built in Willow Glen circa 1910. The wheels and belts of the antique engine chugged and whirred as he described how machines such as this one had provided power for the ranches and orchards of Saratoga more than 100 years ago.

Peggy and Chuck Schoppe stood before the large spinning wheel of an 1895 Mery Explosive Engine, made in Chico. "So many children today don't believe there was a time before electricity," Peggy Schoppe said. "We're here to preserve the power sources of the past."

Behind the Warren Hutton House, visitors were lined up for the free samples of wine provided by the city's winemaking hobbyists. Mark Feifarek, who grew up in Saratoga, filled glasses with his homemade wine. "Most of us have been coming to the Mustard Walk for years to celebrate the ambience of Saratoga," Feifarek said. He said making wine is a lot of work but that he and his friends do it just for the fun of it. "It's more than just a hobby. It becomes a passion."

Conrado was standing beside Feifarek, filling up glasses with his own homemade wine. His company, The Conrado Company, helped underwrite the Mustard Walk in cooperation with the city of Saratoga. "Wine draws people," Conrado said. "None of our wine is for sale. It's just for fun."

In the Heritage Orchard, Nilesh and Kalpita Nabar stood amongst the yellow flowers with their 21-month-old daughter, Diya. The couple said Diya was enjoying the Mustard Walk more than their recent trip to Disneyland.

"I think they should have more of these," Kalpita Nabar said as the family headed over to the lunar new year celebration.

Two longtime Saratoga natives, Ray Bareiss and Marge Elizondo, said they try to make it to the Mustard Walk every year. "We just love the atmosphere and seeing all the people," Elizondo said.

The Mustard Walk and the lunar new year celebration took place on Feb. 5. Like many of those in attendance, Bareiss and Elizondo were walking the trail back to their cars before the 3 p.m. kickoff of the Super Bowl.

The mustard flowers were so beautiful that Nikki Gou of San Jose couldn't resist picking a few.

Above: Taiko drummer Yasuko Corbet gives little Casy Gilligan a quick drum lesson during the Saratoga Mustard Walk.

Center: Artist Felicia Peters Pollock (right) proudly looks on as Allen and Becky Breed admire her work.

Below left: The large Mery Explosive Engine, built in Chico in 1985, chugs away as Chuck Schoppe explains how the device operates to Jason Spiller of Cupertino.

Below right: Saratoga's Rick Waltonsmith drives his donkey team down the path, much to the delight of his young passengers.