Winter time, and the vineyard sleeps, but not really. The dormant vines have shed their leaves showing off their growth and awaiting pruning. After last year’s wet season, the vines had grown long and thick. Time for a cutting! We waited patiently for the first rains so we could plant our cover crop seed. It looked like we were in another drought year, yet the cover crop germinated after a rain in January, but then started to dry up….until late February and March brought us the rain we so desperately needed to wake up the vineyard. The vineyard is now pruned, the cover crop growing and we are waiting for spring bud break. A new, hopeful cycle beings again.
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- October-December started out very dry.
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- In January clouds began to gather
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- And we rushed out to spread
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- cover crop seed before the rains.
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- The rains came, bringing snow
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- to the Sierra Madre Mtns. near us.
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- The cover crop sprouted. We were happy.
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- The vines had grown vigorously. Medusa-like heads they had.
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- We sculpted vine by vine.
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- Shaping the vines
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- for this spring’s
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- growth
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- Until they were all done.
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- Walks are part of our routine.
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- And the cover crop grew.
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- And now onto pruning the olives
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- that had produced so much fruit last season.
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- Removing branches
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- until they were once again ready for spring flowering.
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- The vineyard is our sacred place.
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- We look forward to sharing it with you.