Thursday, June 30, 2016

Early Summer in the Grapeyard

 
“The juice of the grape is the 
liquid quintessence 
of concentrated sunbeams."



We are months away from grape harvest which generally occurs in October here.  A few frosts really sweeten up the grapes, so we hold off on picking them as long as we can.  Strawberries are dwindling and blackberry picking is around the corner.  We are eating lettuces and greens and radishes and garlic scapes, fresh from the garden each day.  We are busy irrigating as we wait for more rain.  A storm is forecast for the overnight hours, and we are hoping for a thorough, but gentle, soaking.







It was pleasant to come home after an afternoon running errands and take a leisurely walk through the grape yard.  


What a pleasure to walk 
amid all the shadows and light,
to pause and admire the contrast 
between new growth and old woody vines,
and to be refreshed by
 the vivid green of leaf growth 
and the sweet blue sky
on this last day of June.


Where ever you are, whatever the weather, 
I wish you refreshment and restoration.


6 comments:

Out on the prairie said...

A favorite fruit indeed. I chew on a fresh tendril when thirsty.Rain has been slow, we get a little, but not enough.Lettuce is about over here, the heat has made most varieties bolt.

Marcie said...

I never thought of chewing on a tendril. Now I have to try that! Will you have a fall crop of lettuce once the weather cools?

My Journey To Mindfulness said...

You bring me memories
of my grape vines
and making grape juice and jelly :)

Pom Pom said...

Hello lovely Marcie! Oh, your photos are juicy today! Beautiful! I think you should write a book of verse. Instead of A Child's Garden of Verses it could be Verse from the Garden. You have all the material right here on your blog!

Marcie said...

Ernestine, Those are good memories! I love making grape juice because I always think of my mom's homemade juice so many years ago!

Pom, Thank you! I will probably do that one of these days. Have a few things in the works! Thank you for ALWAYS being a voice of encouragement!

Laurie said...

Your grape yard looks amazing, Marcie. My husband is the grape lover of the family. He loves muscadines and they do get rather sweet here. We planted a new vine this year...Cherokee. It's a seedless variety. Can't wait to taste them.