Springtime

Bud break '13

Buds on April 4

Our 2013 buds “broke” open about April 4 this year. We have bud break with our petite sirah vines much later than growers of other varietals. Buds on chardonnay vines can arrive and open weeks before ours even begin to emerge.

We’ve had a very dry winter this year, and then got a few bursts of unseasonably warm weather last month, which encourages early bud break, even for us. Our rainfall in December was normal at about 4.74 inches, but we’ve had almost no rain since then, which is very unusual.

Now that the buds are out, they are rolling.

Buds on April 9

Buds on April 9

The good news is that this early bud break might mean we can harvest a bit earlier in the fall and avoid the frost and the rains.

Buds April 15

Buds April 15

The other good news is that the weather brings out new life all over the valley.

Society and her chicks.

Society and her chicks.

Bees on our apple blossoms.

Bees on our apple blossoms.

Baby miniature foals on Lakeville Road.

Baby miniature foals on Lakeville Road.

Puppy + Foal = Poal? Goat + Foal = Goal? Too cute.

Puppy + Foal = Poal? Goat + Foal = Goal? Too cute.

A few links for you:

There are countless posts out there about yesterday’s heartbreaking tragedy. Here are two I liked: Boston and Mr. Rogers.

A delightful refresher from the lovely Fern & Feather blog.

Elvis from his 1968 Comeback Special when he was so handsome and sexy it might’ve been illegal.  Elvis video. This. Makes. Me. Very. Very. Happy.

Meet Ross, a horse from the Navajo nation, who shares his feelings about being a horse in this award-winning video.

xox

6 Comments

6 responses to “Springtime”

  1. avatar Mary McEachern says:

    Ligeia,

    The photos are fantastic! The foal is SO DARLING! The photos bring back so many memories of my family farm- homesick in a good way.

    Thank you for sharing and brightening everyones day!

    Many thanks!

    Mary

    • avatar Ligeia Polidora says:

      Mary, I imagine these baby minis would make a fellow horse lover like you yearn for a soft muzzle to kiss!

  2. avatar Dick & Sharon says:

    We loved this post!
    Thank you for making our day!
    xox

  3. […] coop always has lots going on, so I thought it time for a little chat about the chicks. The six chicks that Society hatched in April are now out on their own. It’s sort of funny how one day Mommy chicken is clucking […]

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