Breaking temperature records in Chicago...

(The legendary Dandelions of Grayslake, Illinois - Sunday May 8, 2011. Had to lie down on the grass(er, Dandelions) to take this photo of the Dandelions)

This is going to be a bit of a housekeeping entry.

- Bird thought to be injured
- Moon over Chicagoland
- Nest came after the bird
- Video of possibly eery night sky
- Dandelions
- Temperatures in Chicagoland

(I was catching up with the neighbor downstairs the other week and there was this Robin sitting on my front porch. To my eye, the bird looked like it was staring down the last few hours of its life. Why I interrupted the event as such, I have no explanation. Anyway, press the right-facing triangle and notice the bird's nest atop one of the pillars of my front porch. I think it is safe to assume that mama bird's water was about to break. Anyway, every time we come home or leave the apartment, we are greeting with a fleeing bird. She essentially flees the nest because we seem a potential harm to her egg. The bird, despite being with egg, really worked quickly to get that nest put together, and it is amazing engineering. Czech the photo below to bear witness. I haven't heard the sounds of a little baby chick just as yet. Photo taken Thursday April 7 2011.)

And, the bird nest:

(I just took this photo on Wed May 11, 2011. Just as I opened the exterior door to the apartment, the mama Robin immediately flew out of the nest and started chirping at me from a tree branch only 10 feet away. Very cute how dedicated she is. But the photo showcases her craftsmanship on that nest. Wow! The bird has a skill set if I have ever seen one. Just needs a resume and a cover letter.)

Greetings. I realized today, don't know why I would forget this, that I actually have 6 viable grape vines growing in Southeast Logan Square Chicago, Illinois. The varietals are, once again:

-  Mars Seedless
-  Syrah (not supposed to be growing here with temperatures like we get in the winter)
-  Cabernet Sauvignon (not supposed to be growing here either)

Two of these varietals I bought by listening to my heart and not my head (Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon). The Mars Seedless I bought at Lowe's Hardware because it was already a developed vine, unbeknownst to me that it was an inter-specific hybrid brought about in 1986 by the lovely folks at the University of Arkansas (Ar-Kansas as the folk musicians say).

And about that moon...

(Photo taken April 17, 2011 Grayslake, Illinois)

(Photo taken April 17, 2011 Grayslake, Illinois)

Today Tuesday May 10, 2011 in Chicago, the temperatures reached 90 degrees Fahrenheit at O'Hare International airport. Talk about craziness, but it was a lovely day. I even gave some of the plants outside a little drink from the garden hose. This temperature apparently broke a record for April 17, which has not been breached since 1896. Big deal, for sure.

(Mas Dandelions! Sunday May 8, 2011 Grayslake, Illinois)

(Many, many, many Dandelions in Grayslake Illinois Sunday May 8 2011)

As I sign off right now at this ripe hour of dawn, the current temperature is 68 degrees Fahrenheit. The world is alive here in Southeast Logan Square. Birds even like it here at the apartment. The next blogulation is going to involve the most recent photos of the vines on-site here at this urban appellation.

At the Southeast Logan Square appellation.....updates on vines.

I am back at the apartment and the past day's temperatures, while raining alot, reminded me of the negative 12 degrees Fahrenheit temperatures from a few months back in Glen Ellyn (vines that I need to visit and see how the buds are), it was the contrast in temperatures that struck me most. I think I have really great news for the vines here in Southeast Logan Square, though, to report.

I recently transplanted beer hops (called Humulus Lupulus Mysterialis - varietal unkown) at the Grayslake vine and hops nursery (the hops were inherited from a brother-in-law who recently moved to another part of the world with my sister - the renters aren't gardeners). Loads of rains and just worried the temps would be too cold. Actually, the temps climbed all night long. Very interesting.

Also, Tablas Creek Vineyard in Paso Robles, California recently updated their blog to report how the vineyards are recovering from frost damage to the early buds. Their blog is top notch and also a very intelligently and well-written piece, full of wonderful detail about the operations out there on the Left Coast.

I have been a bit worried because my vines here have not been indicating too much growth, but, it is the Third Coast, after all. What do I expect, right?! So, with a little reality check in place, I feel comfortable knowing that it is only late April and there are still many warm days coming. Many cold days coming, too. I am particularly interested in seeing if the pruning of the Mars Seedless grape vine hurt the vine or not. Same with the Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grape vines - both of the Vinifera thread. It is true, when I started in this hobby, I planted with my heart: I planted varieties that I like to drink best. This is not always recommended when planting in the Chicagoland area, regardless of whether it is the Grayslake appellation, the Glen Ellyn appellation, or the Southeast Logan Square appellation. And so it is the case that this spring is very important to me on these few levels, including, that I transplanted my Cabernet Sauvignon vines in the Southeast Logan Square soil after starting them from cuttings some 13-14 months ago in flower pots inside my tiny little apartment.

I am very interested in seeing leaves, seeing some breakage of the buds. The Cabernet definitely seem to be pushing through quite nicely. I am a little reserved about any excitement regarding my strong Syrah grape vines. The Syrah vine by the front of the apartment seems to have more protruding buds at the current. Part of me just thinks that I have to trust that the roots will pull through. Then again, winter damage is a reality in this hobby. Time will tell. Hopefully these pictures indicate some good things, or at least predict a very exciting next 2-4 weeks here at the nursery/appellation. Mars Seedless definitely seems the favored vine for breakage next week.

Mars Seedless grape vine

(This image is terrible and has zero sharpness, but it communicates the message. After a rough summer with rat poison and an early March pruning, this vine is looking incredibly healthy. Taken Thurs May 5, 2011)

Syrah grape vines

(This is a snap of Syrah 01-2009 Chicago. It is pulling out of winter AND its 1st pruning!!!! Photo taken Thursday May 5, 2011. Nice feature to have a fingertip in the photo, yeah? That's a new technique they are teaching the kids at schools of Journalism these days. Everything cycles, kind of like fashion.)

(This is Syrah 02-2009 Chicago. This also is pulling through winter AND its 1st pruning!!!! Photo taken Thursday May 5, 2011)

Cabernet Sauvignon grape vines

(Cabernet Sauvignon 01-2010 Chicago. This vine was one of 3 that survived being brought up from cuttings inside my apartment - cut from the same cloth of the original vine in St. Louis Missouri. Started in faux Terra Cotta pots, I eventually planted these in early July, I believe. They survived winter. I may have pruned only a little. Can't recall. Photo taken Thursday May 5, 2011)

(Cabernet Sauvignon 02-2010 Chicago. This vine was one of 3 that survived being brought up from cuttings inside my apartment - cut from the same cloth of the original vine in St. Louis Missouri. Started in faux Terra Cotta pots, I eventually planted these in early July, I believe. They survived winter. I may have pruned only a little. Can't recall. Photo taken Thursday May 5, 2011 - I copied all of the redundant text. Fancy, eh?)

(Cabernet Sauvignon 0e-2010 Chicago. This vine was one of 3 that survived being brought up from cuttings inside my apartment - cut from the same cloth of the original vine in St. Louis Missouri. Started in faux Terra Cotta pots, I eventually planted this in early August, I believe. They survived winter. I may have pruned only a little. Can't recall. Photo taken Thursday May 5, 2011 - I copied all of the redundant text. Super fancy, shuh-uh?)

Willamette Beer Hops

(It's a mad world over at Conejo Loco's Urban Southeast Logan Square Chicagoland Vineyards when I glance at these hops. Could they be any healthier? I even cut out about 9-10 rhizomes to pass along to other rascals and this is still what comes up after a cursory shearing. Godspeed. That is all I can say. Godspeed.)

It has been a bit of a nail biter awaiting the arrival of the broken buds, but I think I can exhale now. Feeling like a success on these Southeast Logan Square urban vines. The only thing that remains, I guess, is a little decorative graffiti along the walls of the apartment or the backyard's wooden fence.

Photos-A-Plenty

Been a big bounce in my steps for the past 38 hours or so, let me tell ya'all. I really have to get some sleep, tomorrow is ramping up to being a very busy day on many fronts, personally and professionally. But, if I don't get these photos up, they just get backlogged. And that gets all too gnarley to deal with. So, let's roll.

Photo Set from Southeast Logan Square Grapevine Nursery

(The ever-popular Senor Rhubarbsky.)

(Photo indicating tremendous growth of the Willamette Beer Hops.)

(Second photo of Willamette Beer Hops.)

(The original Mars Seedless grape vine planted in September of 2009. The buds are ready to burst, they look so pregnant. Just had to snap a photo. This is also my first year pruning this particular vine. I will be very enthused if this one pulls through the winter with green leaves and shoots. After a summer of Rat poison, if this one reports a healthy condition and indicates vigor, a bottle of sparkling wine needs to be released.)

Photo Set #2 from Southeast Logan Square Grapevine Nursery

(One of the best pieces of evidence/news to come upon in the past 38 hours: developing roots.)

(Amazing roommate helping me with transplanting the Russian Mammoth Sunflower seedlings to larger containers. The Russian Mammoth Sunflowers have already outgrown their container that I planted the seeds in only 14-16 days ago. Had to be done. Whipped up a concoction of Barbeque pit ashes, Top Soil, Potting Soil, and Compost. Blended it all together in 5-Gallon buckets and troweled the product into new containers for the sunflowers and the developing grapevine cuttings.)

(Image of growth on cuttings.)

(And, another shot of the growth.)

(More evidence of growth on a few cuttings.)

Photo Set #3 from Southeast Logan Square Grapevine Nursery

(Developing roots on a grapevine cutting.)

(Another shot of developing roots from a grapevine cutting.)

(This little photo reveals how roots developed early on with this particular cutting. Indicates considerable vigor already.)

(Workstation photo #1)

(Workstation photo #2)

The temps reached 41 degrees as an average from many locations. There was also a significant wind to consider, so I decided to transplant on the landing inside the back porch of my apartment. It was warmer for me. I made the soil mixtures in the backyard. Myself and my roommate were pretty bundled up to thwart the cool air.

Photo Set from Grayslake Illinois Grapevine Nursery

(Photo from Grayslake, Illinois grapevine nursery on Monday A.M. April 18, 2011. Received 2 inches of snow overnight. Words taste chewy from previous blog posting. Chew, chew, chew.)

(A shot taken from car eastbound on Hwy 120/Belvidere Road indicating snow cover in Grayslake, Illinois/Wildwood, Illinois.)

I think the message is that April is not entirely safe in this region of the world for transplanting.

(Idea for a cheap planting container. Resourceful and re-useable product. Doesn't impinge on the 'Broke-Ass' wallet. Note the polka-dot material in the right-back of the photo. This is one of the markers being used to distinguish one varietal of grapevine from another. Picked up from the local feedstore in downtown Grayslake Illinois. Brilliant idea on part of partner-in-crime, Lisa.)

(Bottom end of cheap planting container coupled with reusing a salad or mushroom container. The mushroom container's bottom-half becomes the 'Catch Pan, or Saucer'. Nothing is left to waste.)

(Product of brainstorming for ways to come up with cheap planting containers. There are many possibilities in this world.)

(Again, another option for planting a cutting, or anything else. Plant can be easily extracted if the mouthpiece/spout is cut off initially before putting soil in device.)

More to tell from the Grayslake Grapevine Nursery, but I need more time and I need sleep.

What a difference 43 days can make............

Alright. Greetings.

So I keep late hours simply because I have a job that doesn't conclude until after 11pm each night I work from the employment schedule. Which leads me to report that i am still awake at 4:04AM Monday April 18, 2011. I 'just' got off of work. Right.

Crazy how I was just transplanting young grape vines today outside in the backyard of the Grayslake appellation and now 18-20 hours later, there is a layer of snow on the ground. Just remarkable. The words of a previous blog posting are pretty tasty, let me tell you.

Also, the Concords were planted around March 4, 2011. They were transplanted today and the roots were enormous, already. Huge bounce in my steps. Huge.

Gotta go sleep like normal people do. Out.

Ah, flurries fell today.

A snapshot of the sky in Waukegan, Illinois today Saturday April 16, 2011.


It is a cold, dreary day and at one point flurries fell for an extended period of time. I have a few photos of the clouds to communicate a small slice of today. The temps are at 38 degrees Fahrenheit at the moment in Waukegan, Illinois, the lows will be at 32-33 tonight. Chilly Willy, for sure. The past two days have been nothing but rain, which is great for the local water table. I used to think that it was great for the vines, but I am hearing more from sources that the vines that have to struggle to find groundwater are usually the vines that produce the best fruit. Hence, you get these outfits seeking volcanic soils, etc., and selling out of wines that they are producing, in no time.

This is the year of the Next Generation. It is apparent that successes and lessons from this year will provide the bedrock for how to proceed in the coming years. Whatever varietals take best this summer will more than likely be the predominant wine varietals that I'll be fermenting in the coming 6-9 years. Brilliant!

While I have learned that many of the vineyards in California have experienced bud break, I don't think too many in the central states/Midwest area have been able to report such good news, at least not just as yet. Not surprising considering the differences in climate between the two general areas mentioned. I remember one time talking to an old south side Chicago cop and he said that it is usually safe once you come upon thee first moon in May, that is, to transplant seedlings, etc. I do think his advice is pretty spot on. And that is part of the appeal of spring: it teases us with a few warm days, but its function primarily rests in providing transition to the world. I'll sit tight and be patient.

How about a diversion?

I always look forward to the time when I find Blood Oranges in the supermarket.

Blood Oranges a second time. Lovely tasting, aren't they?

It certainly hasn't been as cold as Duluth, Minnesota, but it is quite chilly. Ken Newhams is the guy behind the always wonderful Duluth Shipping News website. Always a fun one to review.

For the love of Cava!!!

A couple of pieces coming your way.

Things are generally growing, or coming out of the winter's dormancy. It is getting safer to grow. Fear of falling snow has now passed. Thunderstorms are frequenting us more in the land of the Chicago. I almost ran over a large rat as I rode my broken down ten speed bicycle, vintage early 70's. I was coming back from saying hello to Adam Faucett and William Blackart at the Double Door. The rat came out from under a car to my right. It was wishing to cross eastbound to the other side of my street, but once I came into its purview, it decided to return to the safety of the little Japanese-made vehicular device. Just like a squirrel when life and limb are at risk. Those rats have long tails, don't they?

The moon is coming around. I have a few shots to share.

Also, as I try more and more to keep abreast on the how's, the why's and the news of other more established operations, I am discovering that many of them already have been able to tell the good news: that bud break has arrived. I have such news as well, but only to report from my cuttings in-house(apt). I have yet to see growth on the outside vines. But all of the buds that I see as I walk past the gardens tell me that there are very good buds that are found on the vines. Many seem to have survived the winter.

This is also a nerve-wracking time for me as I have pruned these Chicago vines for the first time ever. As a result, these next 3-4 weeks are going to be nail-biting. What happens in the coming month is all going into the memory bank for the moment when I get my first 3 acres, whenever that will be. It'll be grueling, but brilliant. I need a success in this area to get under my belt.

The apartment is functioning as a greenhouse, essentially. Currently I have Mars Seedless(University of Arkansas hybrid) growing in pots, from cuttings, and Syrah vines, from cuttings. I hope maybe another round of Cabernet Sauvignon will come up, it looks like such a miracle may occur. Outside, the vines have not come to present the first leaf. Chicago can be a cold place. So I take this as a lesson for choosing the best vines for whatever locale I end up in, those that are best suited for the climate.

On Sunday last, the temperatures hit 82 degrees Fahrenheit - that is incredible!! As a result, the Lillies, Clematis, Willamette Hops, Hostas, Purple Coneflower, Joe Pye Weed have all begun to sprout. As well, I transplanted some Strawberries I have had for nearly 4 years. They were just simply being overrun by the beer hops and so I decided to give them a bit more room to breathe. Already, they are taking to their new home quite nicely. The Hops grew about 3 - 4 solid inches over the weekend. Out of control!!!

And, what is a summer without the Russian Mammoth Sunflower? Well, I suggest just grabbing a few seeds (the pack I bought was $1.00 flat) and grab a little soil and just push the seed into the soil. Water daily, and when the top of the soil appears dry. The sunflowers do the rest. They lean early.

The nose on this Cava, 1 + 1 = 3, I am indulging in is absolutely lovely. The flavor took a bit for me to come to, but the nose immediately befriended me upon my first sip.

Also, why not a shot of the boys? I couldn't get a photo of the rat quick enough, I apologize. It would've also required a third hand to ride the bike then also pull out the Sony and get it on the digital filmulation. Maybe another time, no?

Feeling a bit like a circus juggler these days

(One of the most popular plants on the block: Rhubarbsky)

Many, many things rolling here in the Logan Square neighborhood. Highlight of the week comes from the returning Rhubarb that I planted last year. Actually, this is a significant moment to celebrate because it is my second attempt at trying to bring Rhubarb through a winter here in Chicago. I suspect it might have been poor planting and care on my part as being the reason for the failure of the initial attempt. Regardless, this Rhubarb started to dance about 10 to 12 - 14 days ago and it prompted a mini-fist pump like Tiger Woods usually does on the golf course after an excellent shot. Now that I have it coming up (and believe me, it was deceptively nice on Tuesday of this week - I was freezing outside as I worked painting a wrought-ironed fence), I can look forward to a repeat of summer pies from this lovely plant.

Also, today as I walked out my front door to move my car (a preventative measure so that I don't need to, once again, donate to the City of Chicago's Department of Revenue), I was greeted by a lovely, lovely sound made by a woodpecker in the tree immediately in front of my apartment. I could actually hear it inside my apartment. Having grown up in St. Louis, we really didn't get too many woodpeckers taking up shop in the area. Once I began to learn the sound of the woodpecker (not a difficult task in the least), whenever I hear a similar sound my memory brings up the file and I have to go out to the place where the sound is being crafted, that's just something I love. I couldn't believe how long this one treated me to the sound. It was amazing. I remained in my apartment for the next few hours (nursing a chest-cold/bronchial something) and later came out to learn that the woodpecker was still in the tree. I took a recording on the trusty old iPod. I'll try to post it on the blogulation when I figure how to do such a thing.

I have encountered a couple of very encouraging pieces in the media as of recent. They are listed below:

Mike Steinberger (Slate.com) recently wrote a great piece about Rhys Vineyards out of California. Part of the writing is chronology and history. It was actually those components that helped a little upstart like what this is make me feel very encouraged.

Click the hyperlink to read said article on slate.com:



Also, learning a bit more about the development of Cadeceus Vineyards out of Arizona. Very exciting and encouraging news out of there as well.