A Difference of Five Months

Memorial Day weekend vineyard temperatures dipped into the mid-twenties.

It is not unusual for temperatures in May to flirt around the freezing point.

But a deep freeze this late, when the trees are fully leafed out, and spring flowers in full bloom, is not something we expect.

(Or maybe we should coming off of our third season of "unprecidented" weather.)

That May weekend, hoarfrost on the newly-emerged grape leaves was not a beautiful sight, no matter how lovely the ice crystals sparkled in the early morning sun.

As the sun rose and the ice melted, the eternal hope of the gardener: maybe everything will survive. The leaves are still green.

But as morning progressed to afternoon, droop progressed to wilt.

Another cycle of the sun, and it was clear that most of the leaves, and nearly all the flower clusters, were toast. By the next day, brittle scorched leaves fell to a grave of soft spring turf.

Fast forward five months:

This October morning ice crusted leaves are a lovely sight.

Summer is ending as it should.

Buttery yellow leaves will crisp to brown, then drift to the ground, then disperse in the wind.

The vineyard sleeps, and all is as it should be on this October morning, when frost kissed the vineyard goodnight.