Saturday Jaunt: Spring Along Westside Road
Wind Machines: Frost Protection
Spring is here- for the most part- with glorious, mild daily temperatures- but I awoke this morning about 4AM, dreaming of London and The Blitz: the Wind Machines were on in full force in the Dry Creek and Russian River Valleys. A method of frost protection following bud break when the vines show uber-delicate greening, the sound of the fans always eerily reminds me of huge formations of aircraft droning their way overhead.
Bud break; just like it sounds.
Funny, I have never actually seen the fans/machines in use- but then I guess I am rarely out at the time of night when they need to be turned on. Another interesting form of frost protection that is not often used around here, are the old smudge pots- still out in the vineyards in places, and often in antique stores and the front yards of folks who live in the country- an old-fashioned, probably pretty smudgy, gritty, smoky way to warm the atmosphere- watch out Keanu in A WALK IN THE CLOUDS- worst case scenario.
"Smudge Pot!": sounds like an insult one could hurl at a miscreant.
I took a drive out Westside Road a few minutes ago – the sky is intensely blue, with white and gray clouds hovering on the edges, alternately blocking the sun and then parting to impress me with the intense sunshine and warm temperatures- true Spring weather: warm in the sun, breezy on the edges, with bright promise of incipient summer just around the corner.
I stopped at Matrix Winery to see the yearly- albeit, brief- wisteria and California poppy display that spills out from their TR porch. Staff had beautiful displays of apple blossoms, estate lemons and poppies at the tasting tables; comfy chairs, inside and out, make for fun tasting. New California landscapes, by resident artist Scott Carillo, glow on the walls. Lively crowd, inside and out, enjoying the wines.
Here’s looking at you, kids.
TR.
