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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!!!!!!!!

May 11 2010 Tuesday photo update of garden

************Big news from the southeast Logan Square garden nook. ***************

I had, about 3 weeks ago, put fresh cuttings of Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine (direct from pruning my parents' vine in St. Louis) in pots to see if they would grow. It was a little of rolling the dice and a whole lotta wishing (8 pots total). After doing so, I put them outside along a fence where it seemed I was placing them in a barren spot. In fact, one pot I put about 4 inches east of a Syrah cutting that I placed in the ground last year. This said Syrah cutting was surrounded by so-called 'Chicken Wire', or more appropriately, Poultry Fencing. There are (2) canines on the property, so I have to protect my investments. Canines will be canines, after all. I can't blame them, but I'll be damned if they they get to my cuttings without an athletic battle of wills.

Regardless, I was last night picking up trash that had been strewn and blown about into our apartment building's territory; it is something that us urban dwelling Chicago-types have to grow accustomed to. In doing so, I noted that, just by chance there appeared to be something growing alongside my Cabernet Sauvignon potted cutting. I felt immediate joy upon determining that it was a small growth with leaves quite similar to the cuttings that are growing in the pots inside my apartment, that is to say I knew instantly it was a grape vine sprout. It didn't make sense to me - it was a growth that was hidden by the pot which was situated on the ground by the fence, AND, it was outside of the poultry fencing (which was used to protect the Syrah cutting that was there in the first place).

You get the point. Upon discovery, the clouds broke open, the choirs sang, a cantata was ringing out in Logan Square. Clenched fists, exclamations, jubilation, bottle of Champagne popped, et al. Another one pulled through the winter. SUCCESS!!!!!!! Let's get to the photos, terrible as they are. (Disclaimer: Again, I am just trying to record successes and to achieve positive growth to garner and gather the experience of growing the vines. The Japanese Beetle will come, I am not even sure if I have enough drainage, maybe even eventual rot, might be a future challenge. But as scrappy as this operation is, and in the face of the strangest of environments and its unlikeliness, this initiative moves on with determination.)


The Garlic is coming along quite nicely. This is courtesy of Rebecca Sometimes.


The almighty Big Bluestem. Looking great.


Mars Seedless grape vine showing healthy growth for its first year in the soil. Beautiful leaves, eh?


Another shot of the Willamette Hops. They are just absolutely crazy and almost nearly caught up to last year's growth. (Remember, it is merely May 11th, 2010 here. Amazing.)


This is my hand underneath a Willamette Hops leaf to provide some perspective.


These are the Roma Tomatoes in the backyard (started inside by my roommate). I predict that by Memorial Day weekend they will have doubled in size. The rains of the past week have been quite incredible and lively. As can be seen in the photos of the soil, there has been plenty of debris spread about as a result of the storms. I walked the grass yesterday in the front and the number of twigs I came across was surely above ten in number.


This is the 1st Syrah that came up this year. What a remarkable leaf. Gorgeous artwork.


Same Syrah, different angle. It gained leaves.


This is one of the returning Clematis vines from last year, it is the 1st to blossom this year. It is quite a marvel.


This is the most robust of the Russian Sage plants. The colours are going to be around for a good 6-8 weeks during this forthcoming summer, once it gets to blooming.


This Russian Sage plant is akin to Scrappy Doo, except we'll call this Scrappy Sage. I had to uproot this particular plant from the other side of the bay window, but it wasn't growing very well, or even at all, for that matter. I actually just kind of took the spade, dug the existing old plant/some roots, and then laid it on top of the soil. I brought it over with its own little patch of soil so as to keep roots intact. Once it went to its new environs, "Voila!". The little scrappy plant began to fight for sunlight.


Joe Pye Weed. Very strong and ready for warmer temps.


White Coneflower coming back after its first winter in the soil in our garden. This batch seems very hardy. It does get quite a bit of sun, perhaps that helps alot. It also gets quite a bit of canine spray, too. Not sure about the benefits of such liquid on White Coneflower.


More Joe Pye Weed out by the street. Very excited about this batch. Everything in this area is growing at a rapid pace. Essentially the plants in front get a water, worms, sunlight, and canine urine kind of diet, sans Miracle Grow. The grass gets the Water, Worms, Sunlight, Canine urine, and Canine dookie kind of diet.



Joe Pye Weed returning after the winter. Photo of the plant behind the barricade. Remember, canines await, they long to crap in the garden.


The second Syrah grape vine to sprout this year. Whammo!!!!!


This is the 'lost' Syrah vine. Terrible photographic documentation, but it is brilliant to realize that this vine pulled through the winter and faced the adversity of being nearly prevented from sprouting by having a pot set upon where it wanted to pop out of the ground. This vine is clearly a fighter. It is a contender, not coulda been. I expect remarkable growth from it and a great summer. It'll go ten rounds. No doubt in my mind now.


Switch Grass growing, growing, and growing.


The two Cabernet Sauvignon grape cuttings. Good growth to report, additional leaves and length from both cuttings. Progress as planned. Delighted, as a result.


Lovely Clematis cutting in a vase. Such a beautiful flower. This reminds me exactly why I love them in the garden.


This is as quotidian as it gets. Clematis from another angle.

---------------------------------

One casualty of the recent weather is that a sprig of Aster broke off from falling tree branches. Nothing major, I just happen to be fond of the colour that Asters bring to the garden. It happens. Just interesting to notice the impact of the weather.

That's all for the week!