Lago Lomita Vineyards

In May of last year, we beheaded a few blocks of our Pinot Noir. I wrote about it here, mostly because I was a bit distraught after sawing the vines off the rootstock. We left abrupt vine stumps as far as the eye could see. There wasn’t a green leaf in sight.

Then we went out into our Cabernet Franc vineyard and harvested the wispy ends of their vines. My refrigerator was filled with milk, eggs, cheese, and vines for weeks. We cut the Cab Franc vines into little matchstick-sized pieces. Back in the vineyard, we sawed two grooves into each rootstock. We put the small, whispy bits of Cab Franc vines into these grooves and taped them with white tape so the wind couldn’t blow them away. Then we waited.

We didn’t really get a harvest last year. Beheading has it’s price. But in just four weeks, the fine growth was a full six-feet tall. Oddly enough, last November, these vines actually put out some grape clusters, but it was months too late in the season for the fruit to ripen.

This year is different. All the wispy bits have emerged from the rootstock and are now the diameter of my thumb. They have grown out at least six feet along the wire trellis. We pruned them back in March and laid them down on the wires with tying tape. From there, multiple vines emerged, and finally, at the correct time in the season, they produced grape clusters. Our Cabernet Franc clusters are abundant and are beginning to ripen over the blocks we grafted. Nature never ceases to amaze me.

A Heartfelt Goodbye to the Summit Community Dr. Fahimeh Zibaee, DVM With a very heavy heart, I am writing to let you know that I am leaving the Summit Veterinary Hospital. For the past two years, Summit Vet has become much more than a place where I came to work. It was a place where I invested my time, energy, dedication, and most importantly, my heart. From the very beginning, I cared deeply about this hospital, its patients, its team, and the wonderful community that has supported Summit Vet for so many years.

I came here with the hope of building something meaningful for the future. I worked hard to help the hospital grow and to strengthen the relationships we have with our clients and their beloved pets. I will always remember every patient I cared for and every family I met along this journey.

Unfortunately, despite my significant efforts and desire to continue serving this , I could not reach an agreement to take over the practice from the other two silent shareholders. As a result, I have made the very difficult decision to move on.

This is not the way I imagined my time at Summit Vet would end. Leaving is especially painful in light of how much I have invested in this hospital and because of the genuine connections I have made with so many of you. To all of my clients: Thank you for trusting me with your family members.

I appreciate you allowing me to be part of some of the most important moments in the lives of your pets, and for your kindness, support, and friendship. Your trust has meant more to me than I can adequately express. I will miss seeing your familiar faces, hearing about your pets, watching them grow older, and sharing in both the happy and difficult moments of their lives. Most of all, I will miss the incredible bond that exists between a veterinarian, a family, and the animals we all love.

Although I am leaving Summit Vet, I am not leaving the profession or the community that has touched my heart so deeply. I will carry the memories of my time here with me wherever my path leads. Thank you for allowing me to be your veterinarian. It has truly been an honor and a privilege. I leave with some sadness, but also with tremendous gratitude for the love, trust, and support you have shown me.

Editor’s note: Dr. Zibaee is moving her practice to the Boulder Creek Veterinary Clinic. The clinic is located at 12870 Highway 9 in charming Boulder Creek. Their website is at bouldercreekveterinaryclinic.com.