Vintage 2017: Planting Time

Before this year's planting time arrived, I looked at my notes from last year when we planted 1600 vines in one day. In assessing this year's situation, I thought that we should definitely be able to plant the 9-1/2 rows or the equivalent of 1500 vines, over the weekend. I may even have intimated to friends that it would be a "piece of cake" this year. Oh, oh, oh...never share and say those thoughts out loud!
Mother Nature decided to gift us with nearly 4 inches of rain on Friday and didn't let up until Saturday afternoon. The soil was exceedingly moist even on Sunday, but 19 volunteers showed up to help us plant our grapevines. With the soil so moist, a crew of 4 had to clean the holes that we dug earlier with the dingo. The wet soil also made it difficult to plant the vines, so the remaining crew of 15 people were able to help us plant 2-1/2 rows of vines that consumed most of Sunday. Spirits were high, even though the task was daunting. Here is Mary, with tractor duty with a pose that we decided was "Calender-worthy". Thoughts of a vineyard calendar are brewing.