Trimming the Vines

I'm pleased to report the vines are healthy and doing very well after a week in the ground. I spent the day yesterday getting up close & personal with each one, by trimming them. If the vine had more than one cane, I selected the most promising and snipped the other. I then used my thumbnail to nick all but four or five buds out of the surviving cane. I could have only kept three buds or - more risky - just one, but didn't have the guts to do that yet. So once frost danger is past I'll have to go back and trim again, this time leaving a single new shoot from one of the buds, which I'll then train up the bamboo stake toward the first wire.
All of this trimming will promote more vigorous growth, focusing nutrients and energy into the single shoot which will represent this year's growth. Much like pruning rosebushes.
Very enjoyable work, being up there on the plateau with just the killdeers for company.

Planting Party

We had our "planting party" over the weekend. Friends & family showed up to help plant 1500 grapevines. We had a barbeque going, Dry Falls Cellars came over and poured some of their lovely wines, Spanish music on the sound system, hydroplane races off Airman's Beach in the background, lots of sunshine....
By sunset the plants were in the ground. Thank you, thank you to everyone who helped out, made the drive, shared their Saturday with us. Thank you particularly to Mike & Bum who flew up from Las Vegas and spent three incredibly busy days helping us out. It wouldn't have happened without you.
More photos on Flikr

Bouncing Betty

...aka the Ballbuster, and some other names which can't be repeated here.

1500 plant holes, and she's fights me like a wildcat on every one.

Moon Over Moses

Doug Takes a Well-Deserved Break

End Posts

My friend Doug came over and helped me put in the end posts (5" diameter x 8" long, buried 34" at a 60 degree angle).
Two days of digging in rocky ground, setting posts and tamping with the iron bar, all the while trying to maintain a razor-sharp post line. Thanks Doug, that was huge.