(Wines&Vines) - A month ago, growers in Washington state were anxiously wondering if they should prune their vines. The forecasts of a dry, mild winter had come to pass, and spring, too, was coming: Buds were swelling, and ground squirrels were scurrying from hibernation.

Now, growers in some areas of the Northwest are starting to see buds break and leaves spring forth.

Buds are breaking on Early Muscat vines at Celestina Vineyard in Southern Oregon’s Rogue Valley, according to grapegrower John Pratt, while Keith Pilgrim at Terra Blanca Winery on Red Mountain in Washington state is doing everything he can to slow down his vines.

“Mother Nature seems to be bent on an early start to the growing season,” Pilgrim told Wines & Vines.

Pruning has been delayed on the vines that are earliest to bud in an effort to dissuade them, but with temperatures in the 70°s—unseasonable for March, where the long-term average high in March crests 57° F—growers are no match for nature.

Pilgrim wishes it were late enough in the season that he could count on temperatures staying warm enough to guarantee a lack of frost.

“We will probably have bud break on some of the early varietals within the next two weeks, which would make us about three-plus weeks early. If it would just warm up and stay frost-free, that would be great, but we are still in the first half of March.”