Everything is ahead of schedule

Things are looking very good. While the southern part of the state is on pace to have the driest June on record, here in the northeast things are better. We had a dry beginning to June, but we had about 2 inches of rain last week.

We are nearly double our normal growing degree days to date. I will post some GDD stats in a few days. In the meantime, here are some pictures I took at the vineyard yesterday afternoon.

Frontenac grapes

Marquette grapes on VSP.  Leaf pulling done

Marquette grapes

Japanese Beetles arrive in Madison

Luckily the Japanese beetles have not reared their ugly little iridescent heads at Sampson Valley Vineyard, but they have returned to Madison. I usually see them around July 1, so they are about 2 weeks ahead of schedule.

Below is a picture I took of one on my Marquis seedless vines in front of my house in Madison this morning. He met his demise a very short time later.

Full Bloom

We are in full bloom at Sampson Valley Vineyard. Things look great. Marquette and Frontenac are near mid to just past mid bloom. Foch, Lacrescent and prairie star are in early bloom. Only st pepin and lacrosse have yet to begin. They look they are only a day or two away.

Things look great. But as my brother reminded me we are only a day away from losing everything...., that's the nature of farming.