Napa Valley

A short intermission from Capay to show a different valley.  The mustard flowers are thinning in the Napa Valley vineyards this weekend, but I think the California poppies will be arriving soon!

The Old and the New

Here's another stretch of old vineyard with a fresh new covering of wild mustard.  In the background is a newer more geometric vineyard.  There is a variety of vineyard configurations in the valley.  I imagine each vineyard style depends on the type of grape grown, although I don't know much about it.  It really is a science though.  Here at UC Davis you could get a bachelors degree in viticulture! 

Napa Valley Graveyard

A grapevine graveyard like this one is so rare in Napa Valley.  The wine industry is big business, and vineyard land is utilized efficiently.  I stumbled upon this field on accident when I took a wrong turn looking for a coffee shop.  It was an exciting moment!  I think these gnarled old grapevine stems are so pretty.  It turns out there's a walking path right through this field.  Of course I tried it out!  What a wonderful way to spend a morning!

Berryessa Wine Country

I've been giving a lot of thought to my 2014 calendar, if you can believe it.  We're hardly in 2013, but I need to have my new calendar printed by July!  I was thinking I wouldn't photograph a spring Napa scene this year because I included one in last year's calendar.  I'm really hoping to get an almond blossom photo for the 2014.  (Expect a lot of almond blossom photos this week, I think!)  I was searching through my files from last year, and I came upon a few Napa photos that I didn't post last spring.  This one isn't exactly Napa; it's up past Lake Berryessa, which is a route I can take to Napa.  After looking at my spring Napa file, I decided I just have to get out there this week.  I'm still not planning on using a Napa mustard photo in the calendar, but at least it will break up the monotony of all the orchard shots I'll be taking this week!

March 7

One of the things I forgot about, when I left for Napa Valley at the crack of dawn, was that it takes a lot longer for the rising sun to reach all the parts of a valley.  This section was still in the shade, so the colors came out much different than my other photos.  But I was drawn to the pattern.  And with this shade of green, it sort of looks like a leprechaun might come skipping through here.

March 6

 I know this is a lot of wild mustard and spring green on the blog this week.  I guess I'm just so glad for the change of color from earlier this month.   And I have to admit I'm really enjoying my "week off!"  I really like this photo, but it wasn't well received by other members of my household.  I happen to think it's easy on the eyes.  My only concern was that dark band at the top.  I considered cropping, but I decided to leave it to give a vignette.

March 4

I had a hard time deciding between this photo and yesterday's photo, so this one was my second choice.  And actually these were the only two "row" photos I took, so I guess I should have taken more!  This one is much more scenic, and very bucolic.  Whereas yesterday's photo was much more geometric, and almost abstract.  Even now I'm not sure I made the right choice.  I guess it's just a matter of mood.

March 3

Well today I finally took a photo field trip, which I haven't done all winter.  I set my alarm for 5am, got myself a Starbucks, and drove to Napa Valley.  I've been really interested in this wild mustard growing around the roadside, and I read that it grows between the grape vines out here.  So I guess I've confirmed that.  Although it wasn't quite as ubiquitous as I was imagining.  It's been a while since I've had so many photos to choose for my blog entry.  This was one of the first I took, so the light is very low, and almost backlit.  I'll probably post a few more in coming days.