The farmers are busy pruning the cherry trees. The trees are at their most architectural at this time of year, their branches a stark black against the blue sky. As you travel round the valley, you can see how each farmer has his own distinctive preferred shape.
The vineyards are also being cared for too. When young, the vines are pruned to produce a strong straight trunk with two lateral limbs called "cordon". Last year's growth is being cut back now, so that the vine is left with a short cane with fruiting buds which will produce next year's grapes. As not all buds will fruit, the length of the cane and the number of buds left on it will determine the success of the coming harvest.
As most pruning is done during the cold days of January the pruners have these ingenious improvised carts with them in the vineyards. They act as portable bonfires for simultaneously burning the cuttings and keeping the workers warm!
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