Napa Valley becomes a sea of vineyard greenery. Almost overnight it seems the vines have gone from budbreak to shoots thick new, bright green leaves.
Moisture encourages the sudden growth of "suckers," which are tiny unwanted new shoots on the trunks of vines that need to be removed so that only the most strategically placed shoots remain. Suckering allows the plant to direct its energy into developing the highest quality fruit.
Growers are engaged in vineyard floor management at this time of year. This means the row space between the vines is being disced or mowed, depending on the vineyard's soil management plan and their use of cover crops.