Posts Tagged ‘grapes’
have grape vines, will not prune
I have planted grape vines in quite a few places on our properties over the years.
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At our cabin, one vine survives, climbing an inch or two each year on an arbor we built. The cabin lot was supposed to be great for growing grapes — a sunny slope, the temperature-modifying lake and breezes to discourage insects.
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However, the vines have not been thriving. This year for the first time, I have a scrawny bunch of grapes.
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The vines at home in our garden do thrive, although the light is scarce. Each year I have a few small bunches of grapes.
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my grapes, wandering about in the birch tree
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The vine at the back of the house is amazing. Without pruning, it has climbed high into the maple and fir trees. But an unpruned apple tree keeps the light low. Pruning, that must be the key!
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Competition
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Grape vines climb
high into maple.
Feign kudzu.
Burden the balsam,
bend branches.
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Grape leaves flare,
arrange themselves, nip
every ray.
Mosses and bracken
starved for light.
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But apple
demands its revenge.
Sends shadows
to starve chlorophyll.
Bullies grape.
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Teases leaves
with flecks of half-light.
Grapevine sets
no fruit this season.
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Not a single grape.
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All my best!
Jane
yard work – the grape harvest
We had a frost on October 4 and today, I harvested my grapes. You will imagine tubs of ripe fruit, hands stained purple and a row of grape jelly jars on the counter.
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my grapes, wandering about in the birch tree
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But my grape harvest is a bit small. However after ten years, this is the first ‘harvest’ from this vine so I am quite proud! No jelly though. I ate the lot of them, sitting in the yard, admiring the autumn leaves. They were juicy, sweet and delicious.
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the entire harvest!
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Copyright 2016 Jane Tims
a sad story about grapes
We have just experienced a severe thunder storm. I was in town for aquasize and a few groceries. As I pulled into the grocery store parking lot, I could see very dark clouds in my rear-view mirror. We had been warned of the approaching front last evening, so I was not surprised.
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I went in to the grocery store and immediately saw some lovely grapes. I think they were the most beautiful green seedless grapes I have ever seen. I picked out a bag for supper and went on for the rest of my groceries. I was reaching for soup ingredients (carrots, celery, onions and turnip) when the lights went out. Dead quiet – you don’t realise how noisy those coolers and freezers are until they suddenly go quiet.
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The store staff were so good to everyone. They herded us gently toward the front of the store, saying the registers would continue to work for about a half hour. I was so happy! I would have grapes for our supper! The cashier rang up my few items. I ran my debit card and no luck. Just as I made it through, all the debit machines were down!
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With no groceries to show for my trip, I ran out to the truck and was absolutely drenched in the downpour. Not too much of a problem since I was already a bit wet from my trip to the pool for aquasize!
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My sad story about grapes is about a relatively minor problem. There is flooding in low lying areas in the city and 20,000 homes are still without power. We have power, so I am one of the lucky ones. But they were such beautiful grapes!
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a picnic of grapes back in 2012
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Copyright 2015 Jane Tims
trying to glimpse the beach 6-10
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pines inland of beach on Ile de Ré (image from Street View)
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map showing distance travelled (map from Google Earth)
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Biking from one town to the next on Ile de Ré, I know the beach and the ocean are just ‘over there’, but a berm, a dune and a sea-wall prevent any good views …
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road along beach near Le Martray on Ile de Ré – beach is across the berm to the right (image from Street View)
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Once in a while, I catch a glimpse of the beach through a private yard …
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glimpse of beach (image from Street View)
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On the right side of the road, facing inland, I have excellent views of the salt marsh …
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salt marsh (image from Street View)
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A large area of these marshes are dedicated to producing salt …
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map showing rectangular salt reclaiming areas (map from Google Earth)
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I also see the extensive vineyards I have encountered elsewhere on the island …
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rows of vines in vineyards near Ars-en-Ré (image from Street View)
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Best View: grapes ripe on the vine …
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‘grapes’ June 5, 2013 Jane Tims
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Copyright Jane Tims 2013
beneath the vine
Vines sculpt spaces as they grow, clinging to and draping across the surfaces they choose to colonise.
Telephone poles display armloads of Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia ( L.) Planch.) …
The moose fence along the highway is softened by a curtain of Virgin’s Bower (Clematis virginiana L.) …
Purple grapes, ready to pick, fill the arbour with soft shade…
ripened shadows
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under layered leaves
marbled shadows hang
in cloistered dark
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cool nonchalance
columnar grey intensifies
as grapes grow ripe
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taut green ferments
to purple must
and effervesces air
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even where no surface intercepts
clustered shadows
ready to pick
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© Jane Tims 2011
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