Photos: Cherry trees

Dave Shields with the “Sold Out” sign at his you-pick cherry farm in Leona Valley. He is going out of business and selling the farm, a victim of drought and soaring monthly water bills.

Dave and Cindy Shields walk through their cherry orchard they planted 15 years ago. A winter heat wave, late frosts and marauding ravens and bark beetles devastated much of this year’s cherry crop.

Dave Shields stands at the foot of a cherry tree that he just removed. Shields says he’ll make more money on the property if he knocks down his 200 15-year-old trees and sells the wood.

Dave Shields, a cherry orchard owner who is going out of business because of the drought, will remove his trees before selling the property because he says he’ll make more money.

Dave Shields uses his tractor to remove his cherry trees before going out of business and selling the farm.