Fall planting!

Getting the fall garden ready...I can't believe how many weeds took over this summer - more weeds than veggies, really. We did get a few really beautiful butternut squash, one I am saving for Thanksgiving. And of course, through mid July we had a little zucchini...but August? I think I just let everything get taken over - and now I am paying for it! The worst is the long, strong grasses that send runner even under the heavy path mulch layers. There is not a good way other than just pure muscle to get it out...I am digging out the paths and building up the beds a bit, and we have LOTS of lovely compost! Thank you bunny...

So this week, putting in garlic, greens, and maybe a small bed of asparagus crowns...pictures will come soon!


In other High Meadows and Charlottesville news... The first Fluvanna County Wine Festival is coming up - I can't wait to taste the wines from our friends at Thistle Gate!

Pippin Hill continues to be a favourite place to visit - most guests don't want to leave! The wide porches, the beautiful views - and of course the wine and food - I didn't want the day to end when I was up there last time either!

So - life continues on with all of it's beauty, here and everywhere...see you soon!

whew...

What a summer so far! We are so lucky to meet such wonderful people at the inn...just this past week, we have had several aspiring or new-to-the business winemakers. Democracy Vineyards was here for the 1st annual Wine Tasting at Wineworks - just a short drive up the road. They have a pretty vineyard in Nelson County, and make their wine at Michael Shaps' Wineworks. Also, a great couple from Montreal hoping to have a farm/winery up in the cold north in the next year or so! This week, we have a couple scouting locations to plant vinifera...the countryside here in Virginia couldn't be prettier, dotted with vineyard and rolling hills.

Biking - we had over 2000 people roll through Scottsville last month with Bike Virginia. Sometimes guests pack the bikes and head off for the day touring vineyards that way - most places will hold purchases for you to come back and pick up later. Weather - also perfect! 80's in the daytime, 60's at night...sunny and beautiful. And of course, tubing or canoeing on the James River is in full swing - that is another perfect way to spend a lazy summer day. (tip - plan a midweek trip...stay one night and get your second night half price here, and the river isn't nearly as crowded as on the weekends. Though here at the Horseshoe Bend, the river is WIDE enough to accomodate A LOT of tubers/boaters.

And the best news of all for Scottsville - drum roll please - our new pavilion is up and the Thursday and Saturday Farmer's Markets are in their new home! It is beautiful - open air post and beam, big enough for everyone to have some shade. Thursday evening there is a guy with terrific vegetarian Indian food - bring dinner from the market back to the garden at the Inn - we do it nearly every week!

So much to do in Charlottesville now!! This weekend, we are planning to finally visit Sugarleaf Vineyards - www.sugarleafvineyards.com - and I couldn't be happier! As innkeepers busy not only with the day to day running of the inn and taking care of guests, but also still renovating house and gardens - it is often hard to find time to do the things we know our guests are enjoying. So, even though many guests have raved about it - and Lauren has visited us several times with kind invitations - we have yet to visit, and it isn't even that far! So - I will have pictures and a report on Monday.

This weekend is also a winemaking workshop at Monticello, with Gabrielle Rausse - who also happens to care for our vineyard and make our wine. We are crossing our fingers that this harvest will be a good one for a red from our grapes...we need rain, but if it can hold off a couple of weeks til harvest Gabrielle will be a happy man!

We are currently making plans to restore some of the vines that have been lost over the last 20 or so years...we dig the holes in the fall, and plant the new vines in spring. Gabrielle said that though Pinot Noir isn't the best grape choice for Virginia - he can ALWAYS use them in one way or another - last season for example, he blended ours with some from Barboursville...can't wait to try that.