Reach for the sky

Most of the grape vines in vineyards out back are regularly cut back during the summer. I think this is done to channel the vines' energy into producing grapes, not leaves. The process is mechanical and leaves the vineyard with a neat, closely-cropped look. Here and there, however, a vine will send up tendrils that grow up and out of the pack.

This stalk rises a couple of feet above its parent vine.

We're still enjoying very nice weather and the forecast is for more. Rain will come eventually, I'm sure, but it's not coming this week.