Here are a few photos from a day we spent pruning vines at Elmer Swenson’s vineyard near Osceola, WI (11/16/2002). Click on a specific image to view a larger version of it.
| The pruning crew | ) |
  | More of the pruning crew | ) |
| Heather pruning up a storm | ) |
  | Pruning closeup | ) |
| Elmer Swenson | ) |
  | Knarly vine | ) |
| Elmer and some guy | ) |
  | Swenson Vineyards | ) |
Here are a few photos from the vineyard this summer 2002. Click on a specific image to view a larger version of it.
| 7/9/2002 - Valiant vine well beyond the confines of its grow tube. Planted 5/19/02. | ) |
  | 7/26/2002 - View of the vineyard from the west. A few of the vines in the eastern-most rows are out of view. | ) |
| 8/18/2002 - Emma with a Valiant vine. | ) |
  | 8/26/2002 - Ellie showing off her harvesting skills with a cluster of Valiant grapes. | ) |
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Here are some 2003 vineyard photos. Click on a specific image to view a larger version of it.
| Valiant vine that has entered it’s dormant phase. These vines survived and thrived last winter. (10/24/2003) | ) |
  | Prairie Star vine hilled up and in shutdown mode. All of the Prairie Stars were killed to the ground last winter. Four of the six pushed shoots from the ground by July. (10/24/2003) | ) |
| Frontenac vine hilled up just in case. (10/24/2003) | ) |
  | St. Pepin vine hilled up and ready for winter. This is the only plant that survived last winter. It pushed shoots from it’s base in the middle of July. (10/24/2003) | ) |
| Bluebell vine hilled up and ready for winter. This vine survived last winter - but was killed to the ground and had to push shoots from it’s base. We replanted two others. (10/24/2003) | ) |
  | Sabrevois vine hilled up and ready for winter. The Sabs did not grow that well in their first year. May not have gotten enough water. (10/24/2003) | ) |
| King of the North vine hilled up and ready for winter. This vine was killed to the ground last winter and pushed shoots from it’s base in late June. (10/24/2003) | ) |
  | A view to the north down the middle row of the vineyard. (10/24/2003) | ) |
| Most of the vineyard as viewed from the southwest. (10/24/2003) | ) |
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| These Valiant bunches show affects of Powdery Mildew (8/4/2003). | ) |
  | Ripe Valiant bunches just prior to harvest (8/25/2003). | ) |
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| Frontenac grapes a few weeks before ripeness (8/25/2003). | ) |
  | Valiant grapes - freshly picked. Great tasting! (8/25/2003). | ) |
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| The entire vineyard - in the midst of budbreak. On May 8th, 2003. | ) |
  | Newly planted Sabrevois vines in Row 5, Lake Elmo - bareroot plants - on May 13th, 2003. | ) |
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| Newly planted Sabrevois vines in Row 6, Lake Elmo - bareroot plants - on May 13th, 2003. | ) |
  | Newly planted Sabrevois vines in Hudson vineyard’s Row 3 - May 13th, 2003. | ) |
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| Newly planted Bluebell vine - Row 5, Lake Elmo. | ) |
  | Newly planted King of the North vine - Row 6, Lake Elmo. | ) |
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| Remote thermometer - installed fall 2003. Recorded 2002/03 winter low of -24.6F. | ) |
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Here are the latest shots of the vineyard and various activities from 2004. Click on a specific image to view a larger version of it. We have had plenty of rain and some warmer weather as of late - so many of the vines are experiencing explosive growth.
| This vine is typical of the Valiants. The growth they put on this year tells us we should have a decent crop from them next season (10.2.2004). | ) |
  | This vine had its roots chomped on by a gopher…we are thinking of declaring all-out war on the little rascals (10.2.2004). | ) |
| The Frontenacs all experienced huge growth this season. All are now prepared for a small crop next season (10.2.2004). | ) |
  | Foch vine number 3 - typical of the growth seen in all 12 Foch this season (10.2.2004). | ) |
| The full row of Valiants. We plan to run wire very, very soon (6.9.2004). | ) |
  | Valiant plant number 5 doing extremely well (6.9.2004). | ) |
| Valiant plant number 6 with a large upright growing shoot (6.9.2004). | ) |
  | Frontenac vine number 1 pushing strong from it’s roots (6.9.2004). | ) |
| Frontenac plant number 3 recovering nicely from May 14th frost (6.9.2004). | ) |
  | Frontenac vine number 6 pushing strong from it’s roots (6.9.2004). | ) |
| A frost-nipped shoot on a Valiant vine (5.15.2004). | ) |
  | A frost-nipped shoot on a Frontenac vine (5.15.2004). | ) |
| Frost-nipped shoots on recovering Sabrevois vine. There are three shoots coming out of the ground near the base of the vine - all three were nipped (5.15.2004). | ) |
  | About a dozen Foch vines ready to be planted out in the vineyard. We had to bring them into the garage for the night to avoid frosty conditions (5/14/2004). | ) |
| Valiant vine with swelled buds. There is a swelled bud just above where the vine is tied to the stake. (4/22/2004) | ) |
  | 2nd year Sabrevois vine with swelled buds. We were not sure that any of the Sabs would make it. They did not achieve alot of growth last season (4/22/2004). | ) |
| Full view of the vineyard looking to the North/Northeast (2/7/04). | ) |
  | 2 year old Frontenac vines snuggled in tight for the rest of the winter. These vines suffered last winter and most pushed shoots from below ground to survive. We expect them to do much better in 2004 (2/7/04). | ) |
| Valiant vines - the hardiest vines we have. Note that a couple of these are still developing their main trunk (2/7/04). | ) |
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Here are the latest shots of the vineyard and various activities from 2005. Click on a specific image to view a larger version of it.
| Close-up of Valiant cluster (8.13.05). | ) |
  | Nice Frontenac cluster (8.13.05). | ) |
| Lots of Valiant grape clusters (6.26.05). | ) |
  | More Valiant clusters (6.26.05). | |
| Even more Valiant clusters (6.26.05). | ) |
  | One of our original Prairie Star vines finally taking hold (6.26.05). | ) |
| A portion of our first Frontenac crop (6.26.05). | ) |
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| We thought this vine was dead, but just this week, it’s buds began to swell noticeably (6.6.05). | ) |
  | Valiant vines numbers 4 through 6 looking in great shape as they prepare to bloom (6.6.05). | ) |
| Prairie Star vines grow-tubed and beginning to grow like crazy (6.6.05). | ) |
  | A full shot of most of the vineyard (6.6.05). | ) |
| Frontenac vine R3-FT3 with new shoots (5.27.2005). | |
  | Valiant vine R1-VT4 showing alot of buds (5.27.2005). | ) |
| Frontenac vine R3-FT3 prior to pruning (4.3.05). | ) |
  | The row of Frontenac vines after pruning. Plant R3-FT3 is second from the right (4.3.05). | ) |
| The assistant vineyard manager overseeing spring pruning (4.3.05). | ) |
  | Our lone surviving Prairie Star vine - R2-PS1 (4.3.05). | ) |
| A sample of cuttings taken while pruning. From left - Valiant, Foch, Sabrevois and Frontenac (4.3.05). | ) |
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| Group of Prairie Star vines in our Hudson, WI vineyard (3.13.2005). | ) |
  | Another group of Prairie Star vines in our Hudson, WI vineyard (3.13.2005). | ) |
| A view of the vineyard looking to the northeast (3.5.2005). | ) |
  | The Valiant vines (3.5.2005). | ) |
| The Frontenac vines (3.5.2005). | ) |
  | The southern endposts (3.5.2005) | ) |
| The Foch vines in row 4 (3.5.2005). | ) |
  | The Foch vines in row 6 (3.5.2005). | ) |
| Our lone surviving Prairie Star - we will be adding some additional Prairie Stars this season (3.5.2005). | ) |
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