This is a feature of the Willamette Hops expanding. Expanding they are. Actually, today is June 12 2010 as I type this. The hops as they looked tonight, have inched closer to surpassing where they were at harvest time last September 2009. Again, the issue that I am facing now is the bloody slug and whatchamacallit....the earwig. You would imagine they would all be dead by ingesting so many green leaves as they have. The neighbor's vegetables are, in spots, getting no pass at all. He is trying his best to get the slugs drunk on cheap American beer, and many can be found doing the permanent backstroke in the little trays of beer he has set out. But the cousins found out about the feast and they have traveled great distances to come and enjoy all of our crops. The stage is set:
BATTLE ROYALE
Conejo Loco/Garden Apartment Neighbor w/ jumping 65lb. Australian Shepherd puppy
vs.
Slugs/Earwigs!!!!!!
Alright, enough silly commentary. But how about that Willamette Hops root. How does one explain this? I could not come up with any decent answer (a root/vine comes out of the soil, performs an arc, then immediately goes back in to the soil in the process forming a half-circle), nor did I have the time. The date on this photo is May 25 2010. Many days have passed and the vines have nearly grown a 1/4th of what they were in this photo (which only shows something in the soil, er...coming out of the soil). I thought it would be pretty excellent to document.
Everyone needs a little Clematis in their lives, don't they now? As with many of the fauna in the garden I am simply amazed and grateful that it even grows in the area in which I decided to plant it.
With this above photo, one is looking at and viewing the lovely Joe Pye Weed plant. The significance of this particular plant and photo, at this specific moment in time, is that it will help the reading audience to gauge the growth, of all things, the Willamette Hops. Stay tuned to the blog and compare the next few blog posts to compare. Get scientific with it. Measure. Compare. Contrast. Enjoy!
A couple of notes is that this plant is actually growing, I know - I am embarrassed to even admit this - , under a thick blanket of tree canopy (I prefer to call it as it should properly be known 'Shitty Weed Tree That Neighbor Doesn't Realize Is Actually A Weed, Probably Even Non-Native Plant Species AND Invasive AND Most Likely Isn't Even Classified As A Proper Tree for North America'. Therefore, consider the height of this plant at the beginning of the final 30 days of Spring, knowing what you know now. It only receives direct sunlight at sunrise, and ONLY when it is not impeded from receiving the solar gifts on a clear morning, sans cloud activity and cloud presence.
Getting back to Nomenclature. I realize now that there are two specific items of the local fauna that share the distinct characteristic of tenaciousness. One Cabernet Sauvignon vine cutting (from the St. Louis vine, 01-2008) is from henceforth referred to as 'Rocky' (it has been beat up considerably by the temperamental bay window at the west end of the apartment, from what the native friends report). The second that has such distinction is this Joe Pye Weed in the rear garden. I am remiss with any fun names to associate with this particular Joe Pye Weed - I do believe created one tonight - , but do know that it is fully engaged in a death match, so to speak with one of its neighboring plant friends. It could also simply be a lively and vigorous playful competition between the two plants. However it is played out, the gardener is thoroughly entertained by it all.
I know the Bumble Bees will be delighted within the week.
I put this up for the perspective that it provides. Wonderful viewing here. Obviously, it is the Willamette Hops vine.
Just note this photo.
Been a while. The job is finally slowing down for a bit. Had to step away from z blog until other matters were attended to and a bit in the past.
Thanks for reading and being patient with the entries! If you find a winemaker that would take in an apprentice, contact me!!!!!!!!
