December 24th, 2010

 

Happy Holidays!

 

It was a beautiful morning this day.  Winter at Herons' House is amazing primarily because it is planted with natives and a vineyard.

 

In stark contrast to the California evergreen lawn, evergreen palm trees, that is the dominant landscape palette in So-Cal,  Herons' House is landscaped to enjoy the four seasons.  From the new growth and color of spring,  the fruits and lushness of summer, the harvest and leaf fall of fall, and the barren starkness of winter.  

 

This is what I love about our vineyard.  Sure I love the wine, the making of the wine, the farming and harvesting the fruit.  An unexpected pleasure and the part that I love most about our vineyard is the beauty of the four seasons and the ever-changing canvass that is Herons' House.

 

 

The last leaf from a Vitus Californica vine known as Red Roger.    This is the native California vine that the missionaries made mission wine from in the 1700's

 

 

Herons' House is constructed to use the passive energy of the sun to heat the home. Herons' House is south facing and is made with dark color concrete surfaces to absorb the heat of the sun. Here you can see the morning dew evaporating from the wall in a striking visual indication of passive solar at work in the winter time.

 

 

The home and the vineyard absorb sunlight

 

 

We use the California Poppy as a cover crop to biodynamically farm our vineyard.  The California Poppy begins to grow in December.  In late January it is in full bloom and prevents insect infestations, In May the seed pods burst open to seed next years cover crop and the poppies are hoed down thus providing organic nutrients to the soil. The cycle repeats itself ever year.

 

 

I love the stark bareness of the vines and the new growth of the cover crop.  Pruning will be in late January. The poppies will be in full bloom by then. Cover crops can be beautiful as well as functional.

 

 

Another biodynamic method we use in our organic vineyard is composting.   Each year we make 1000 bottles of wine. The winemaking  creates about  500  lbs. of must which is the grape skins and the seeds as the juice is pressed off.  We use the must in a compost pile and then about 6 months later we have incredible rich soil to add to the earth.

 

Both the poppies and the composting are used instead of fertilizers, insecticides and pesticides.

 

 

 

 

Many of the natives like this Indian Mallow bloom in the winter time.

 

 

Toyon, a California native also blooms in the winter time and is the plant that Hollywood derives its name from.

 

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.