SPRING is just around the corner in the vineyard and it’s very evident – the crows are busily conducting renovations to their nests.
The pigeons in the shed, who seemed to think it was their right to enjoy spring-like conditions all year round, eventually got the message and moved on to somewhere, anywhere, I don’t care.
But only after I went in on a monthly basis and emptied their nest, over and over. I call that a win.
Sam the snail, however, has panicked after the wet year in 2022 when he became a father to more than 4000 kids – he has just reported that his missus has started wearing lippy again, and winking at him all the time, so the poor coot has escaped to one of the safe houses near the road (a pot hole so deep he’ll never be found).
But when he slipped in he also found about 12 other snail males already hiding there as well, so now they take turns raising an eye up above the road surface checking that they are safe (and they’re in no danger of road repair crews, these potholes have only been around for a few years, in many cases).
Meanwhile, I’m still out there machine pruning, and as the days are gradually getting longer, the sun now is nearly up when I start pruning at 6.30am.
I’ve also put a small gang to work hand pruning in the blocks which have already been machine pruned and which I reckon will be picked next year.
Sap has started running in the early varieties, so it will all start happening before we know it, and whether we are ready or not.
Sadly, apart from that progress, there is no good industry news to discuss at all, so let’s report on the important stuff – such as the week in which we escaped for a bit of a break to where it is much warmer. It was really great, and there was not a grapevine in sight.
The ibises have also been strutting about in the vineyard during the recent weeks, looking for snails (they won’t find Sam, and initially I was not too sure about the missus in her hot pink lippy).
But these crafty birds are obviously interested in investing in the longevity of their food source.
So after flying in one morning earlier this week they surprisingly were seen talking to a group of lady snails, all of whom seemed to be wearing provocative lingerie and lipstick.
And the evil ibises were using their wings to point this slow motion harem of insatiable snails in the direction of the road.
Talk to your mates!
