the world I knew, and the beginnings of it's end
click on pics to see enlarged
Healthy Orchards -------
in full spring bloosom
After many weeks of preparation and manicuring, ready for summer harvest.
Dead Orchards -------
broken stumps, forcing   a few last blossoms
truely dead, sapless, waiting for the bulldozer
lifeless in the shadoow of what's to come
The Catholic Noviate College and Winery in the hills above Los Gatos
This photo was taken in 1950 when the Noviate was still surrrounded by all of it's vinyards.  There were so many other world renown wineries scattered all about the foothills of the Santa Clara Valley.  The grape vine was hearty and didn't need the rich bottom lands of the fruit orchards.  Many world renoun wineries had their vineyards and wineries in Santa Clara Valley; Almaden, Paul Masson,  Mirassou, and so many, many others.
The foothill woods, a 30 minute walk from my house
These 2 photos were taken from the same spot, the glade in front of me, the view of the wasting valley behind me
a few months later, this was my way to the glade
Now, all we have left, is this.......
To view some of the old Valley methods
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