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2012 SEASON — Eleventh Harvest (thirteenth leaf)

Here's a fun find! We've been watching all five owl boxes for two years and we finally saw at least one owl! He's not a barn owl, which is the kind the boxes are designed for. According to the Hungry Owl Project, where we purchased the boxes, a family of Barn Owls can consume about 3000 rodents in one breeding season! Our guy looks to be a Western Screech Owl. He's also welcome and will hunt rodents though not as many as he's about 1/10th the size of a barn owl.

December 2011 was one of the driest on record, and it was sunny but cold, dipping into the twenties right before dawn. We began pruning with three people (bundled up well) using Pellenc electric pruners and tiers. As of the first part of February, only one significant spate of rain let the crew prune straight though so they finished the third week of February. By March 13th it was raining and we're seeing the first of the buds unfurl. Frost fans were in place as of April 10th. They ran one full night and twice for a few hours just before sunrise.

In early May, with wind machines stowed for the season, a large crew thinned shoots and suckered crowns and trunks. We were on the tractor non-stop with the wild oats growing so fast we could watch them. The crew completed a second pass to split the canopy and position shoots by early June. With only one minor rain and a bit of wind, flowering completed, berries swelled  nicely into bunches, and we enjoyed the weather.

The rest of the summer was mild, a little warmer than 2011, but not much—perfect for Pinot Noir. The crew went through in August to drop anything with a hint of green or pink.

In September after a lot of watching and waiting we began picking on the 15th, about a week earlier than last year, and then resumed on the 28th through October 5th...  So, a bit later.

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Harvest Photos

New Vineyard Friend  — A Western Screech Owl in a Barn Owl Box!

Marguerites — Fred in Geyser View Block

Spring Bud  — New leaves unfurling in Three Oak Block with a frost fan in the background

Coloring up  — Home Block

 

   

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