Pruning Grapevines

It is time to clean up the grapevines.

It hurts.

Way down deep in my soul. I have a hard time cutting down or pulling up anything that is still nice and green.  Anything that is green and growing has a pass in my book.  I hear all the plants in my head.

Grapevine: Look, Donna. Look at my nice green leaves.


Me: Stop talking to me!  You are a grapevine and you don't actually talk.  Dangit. *lalalala get out of my head!*


Grapevine: But I am so nice and green! In this nasty summer have you ever seen so much green?


Me: Tim!!! Come see! The grapevines are telling me they don't need to be cut down right now.
Tim: You are such a city girl. Those grapevines aren't saying a word.  Hand me the pruners.

So down the grapevines went (much to their disappointment ... and mine).

Notice the little helper in the right rear?

Here the little helper again!

It's a good thing Maddie helped, because I'm not sure we would have got it all done ...

My job was to strip the leaves and smaller branches.  Let's just say that my nails are still green.  And yes, I do garden in a dress.  I am in a dress about 90% of the time I am at home LOL.  It's hot here.

Oh look!  Another helper!  I'm so glad we have such good farm-hands.

So what did we do with all the vines that we stripped?  Tim made a wreath.

Not bad for his first time.  (And look!  Another helper!)

He also make kindling for our upcoming cold winter ...

Although, Google tells me that grape wood is prize by people who smoke/grill meat.  We might just try that out.

We worked til after dark.  We were tired.  We were dirty.  So what did we do?

The end of a perfect day.

XXOO

Donna