- Author: Betty Victor
On a spring day in February, yes it was just like spring a trip through the Napa Valley was called for.
Driving through the Napa Valley on up to the small town of Calistoga where we passed several vineyards, some with workers pruning the vines and plowing in between. The ones waiting for attention still had the tall grass growing in between the rows. Some had mustard all in bloom. That reminded me when I was young, after the first rain and the mustard was young and had not started to bloom, my mother and aunt would put on their rubber boots and go out to these muddy fields, picked the young leaves, bring them home, wash and cook them like any greens they cooked, garlic and olive oil was a must. Not my taste at all, but I wonder is there anyone who does this now or do we just buy the greens in plastic bags at our favorite grocery store?
We came home using the Silverado Trail. It is a beautiful drive, as some of the Coast Range mountains seem to be all around you.
From what I have read these mountains came to being when the tectonic plates collided below the land causing it to buckle, sending lava and ash everywhere, that is why some people say the valley soil is so rich. Besides these beautiful mountains, we saw poppies and more mustard.
The Silverado Trail has some traffic, but not as much as Highway 29, it makes for a very pleasant way to spend a day.