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.

The Catch-All Blog Posting

(cuttings from the Mars Seedless vine. I decided to prune it back to experiment, in all honesty. After the rat poison incident of early summer 2010, the vine struggled and I am just hoping to give it another lease on life in the big city, The Second City actually. We'll see how it develops. Photo taken March 3 2011 Thursday)

(This photo is just for the sake of indicating the green Xylem inside the vine, even after a harsh Chicago winter. This is the first year I have begun to take notice of such physiological characteristics. I am encouraged. Again, these are the few Mars Seedless cuttings I was able to extract. Rolling dice here by trying to get cuttings off these plants in Chicago. Photo taken Thursday March 3 2011)

(Syrah grape vine cuttings. I am a little worried about how the vine wintered. I realize the vine is not matched well with the climate, but I worry a bit about the color that the vine took. My question is whether or not the Periderm actually developed properly. We'll see. Photo: March 3 2011 Thursday)

(Syrah grape vine cuttings just a little bit closer in scope. Note the green of the Xylem. Seeing the green took me by surprise. Photo: March 3 2011 Thursday.)

(Syrah grape vine cuttings. Another close-up of the vine's Xylem after wintering in Chicago, Illinois. This region has seen harsher winters. Seeing the green on this Vinifera planted is a considerable surprise. Photo: March 3 2011 Thursday.)

(Willamette Hops from Thursday March 3 2011. This was a very cold day. On March 2nd, I was in Bloomington, Indiana and the weather was very agreeable. The very next day in Chicago on the 3rd I had been smacked in the face by the winds coming off Lake Michigan as I waited for a bus (downtown Waukegan, IL) after my transmission blew on the blue 1996 Toyota Camry - I had to get to work somehow, right? The result was windburned cheeks, but the experience made me grateful. These Hops still keep growing despite the chilly temps. I am watching these to see what they are capable of. They look like fighters to me.)

(Willamette Hops from Thursday March 3 2011. Look on the right half of the photography to note the faint green in catching a glimpse of this Hops growth.)

(Willamette Hops from Thursday March 3 2011. Again, look for the green in the photo.)


Plenty of photos to catch up on. The weather today reached 59 degrees by 1PM in Chicago. Currently it is 34 degrees Fahrenheit and has been raining quite extensively for well over 8 hours. This storm is massive in its expanse.

How about a photo of the car? Whaddya say? We all need a good laugh after all, right?

(Nothing but a day in the life.......Coaching myself, "Chin Up! Chin Up!!!!!")

Chicago vines and hops updated photographs w/o snowcover!!!! - Wed Feb 23, 2011

The title of this posting says it all!!!! And a crashing computer prevents me from wanting to write too much tonight.

Surprising new growth from either an Iris or a Lilly. I actually purchased the plant in Wilmette, IL in the parking lot of a CVS Pharmacy for $1.00. The store was trying to Clearance its little 'Home & Garden' section. Such an early rise for plants. Interesting to note.

Neighbor's gargoyle without snowcap.

My beloved treebase garden. This was conceived of by my neighbor and building manager back in the summer of 2009. I absolutely love this little thing. It adds so much to the yard, I think.

Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine Chicago 2010 - (Wed Feb 23, 2011)

Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine Chicago 2010 - (Wed Feb 23, 2011)

Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine Chicago 2010 - (Wed Feb 23, 2011)...Recall, this vine was planted about 4-5 weeks later than the two previous. It was planted in early August 2010 with the hope that it would better weather the winter by getting acclimated to the soil before temperatures dropped.

Syrah grape vine II Chicago 2009 - (Wed Feb 23, 2011)....The vine trunk is not to be confused with the darker tree limb that fell into the chicken wire protective guard I have around the vine. The limb will soon be extricated.

Mars Seedless grape vine 2009 - (Wed Feb 23, 2011)

Syrah grape vine I 2009 - (Wed Feb 23, 2011)

Willamette Hops refusing to let the winter temperatures get them down (Wed Feb 23, 2011)

Willamette Hops continued....(Wed Feb 23, 2011)

Enjoy!

update from the Chicago vines - photos Wed Feb 9, 2011

I am well over a week late with these photos, but I am putting them up anyway. Here are a few photographs of the vines I have planted in Chicago. I took the photos on Wed Feb 9, 2011. Check, check, check them out!

(Syrah Grape vine I - 2009. This is the vine that I knew was going to give me hope last spring. When I saw the buds bursting, I was ecstatic. Actually, in the ground it was still simply just a woody, bark-like grape vine cutting, and the little fella made it through a harsh Chicago winter. I just couldn't believe the potential of these vines until this one showed what possibilities existed. Absolutely, this is not the right vine for the climate, but I don't care. What I am learning now, I will take with me into my future endeavors elsewhere - whether it be as a hobby grower, or as a gainfully employed worker at a vineyard outside of Healdsburg, California, or anywhere else along HWY 101. I was actually forgetful about how large I allowed this vine to grow - for better or worse. I took this still photo and I also took a video on the 9th of Feb 2011. Stepping back a bit, I feel very much that I am in a better place with this vine being the way it is now, as sprawled out as it is, compared to last February 2010. My intention, as I have made clear on this blog, is to extract cuttings from this vine when I prune it. Pruning this vine will occur Monday Feb 28, 2011. Super-excited is the word, folks.)

(Syrah grape vine II 2009. This was the surprising vine. It shocked me to all get-out when I realized something was actually growing where I had planted it in September 2009. And true to form, given that it is Vinifera, this cutting didn't really start growing until about 1 1/2 to 2 weeks after Syrah I. The day I learned it pulled out of winter, I was so overjoyed my neighbor above me thought I was so strange for my enthusiasm over a young cutting pulling through a Chicago winter. I remember when I planted these vines, I didn't know a thing about how to proceed, about placement, climate, or what else to consider, etc. All I knew was that I had ordered Syrah cuttings on EBay - sounds like a terrible idea, doesn't it(it was all based on the success of the 2008 growing season)? I grew the cuttings in the apartment, all 6 of them, and all six of them did very well. I knew I had to get them in the ground. I didn't realize fully why. Anyway, only 40 inches away to the east (another really bad idea) I had another stronger Syrah cutting planted in the ground. The stronger vine seemed to be doing really well at the start of the 2010 growing season, but then it fell victim to wind damage - maybe even some Canine damage, as it was very tender despite being the one of the strongest of the 6 cuttings as I raised them inside the apartment.

(Mars Seedless grape vine. Last year it's growth was greatly stunted by being too near a rat hole. When the city of Chicago came in the yard to put down rat poison, it clearly affected the vine. It was planted in Sept 2009, during the spring of 2010 the vine had tremendous growth and progress. I bought it from a Lowe's hardware store off of Touhy Avenue in Lincolnshire, Illinois. Then it was all "shot to hell...", as my family is fond of reporting, once the city of Chicago Rat/Pest Control Department came in to engage the rats living just on the other side of the fence between my neighbor and my apartment's yard.)

(Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine. One of the first pair that myself, my roommate, and my neighbor downstairs planted. These vines were started from cuttings that were a result of pruning the original Cabernet Sauvignon vine in St. Louis last Feb 2010. When my roommate and I planted these, we were amazed at how fast roots grew from this cutting (the roots encircled the bottoms of the flower pots by the time we planted them in actual soil). This vine and its sibling grew amazingly well in the apartment while resting in soil in a measly flower pot. Planting these was a crazy idea and is still a long shot. This area is, however, the best place for sunlight during the summer months.)

(This is clearly another Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine. This is the second half of the story mentioned above. Also a very hardy cutting, apparently, and it simply took off in the apartment. It will not get great airflow while abutted to the exterior wall of my brick apartment building. But it still won't stop me from growing vines here. To be redundant, if you come upon grape vine cuttings in late February, just go ahead and gamble and put them in a flower pot and see if they do anything in 12 weeks time. There is nothing to lose.)

(Another Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine and a very strong vine at that. I probably planted this in late July or early August 2010. This vine won't do too great because of where it is situated. The soil is quite good, it won't get enough sun, though. The reason for my planting it was because I had too many cuttings and I had to do something with them before the weather started to get cold. Having done so much nursing and coddling of these cuttings while trying to get them started in the apartment during the springtime, I didn't want to see my roommate and I's efforts be for naught. I also wanted this vine to have more time to get acclimated to the soil, than vines I had hastily planted in the past. My aim was to plant it about 5 weeks earlier than I did the previous year with planting the Mars Seedless grape vine in September 2009. I am definitely looking forward to measure its relative growth to the Mars Seedless. As I indicated above, the Mars Seedless pulled out of the winter of 2009/2010 and had an exceptional start to the growing season until the arrival of the rat poison - the poison was desperately needed, though. There seemed to be a shanty town developing down in that rat hole every time I looked near it.

After writing these little blurbs, it came upon me that this is my 4th growing season with grape vines. Amazing. The first two Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine cuttings went into the ground in March 2008 in St. Louis, Missouri.

See you soon!

46 Degrees Fahrenheit for the low temperature last night

Growth cannot be sustained any longer for this particular growing season of 2010. Today is Sept 28 2010 Tuesday. It's been an amazing year. There is a ton to celebrate and there is a ton to look forward to as things proceed into the future, the unknown.

When the temps dip below 50 degrees Fahrenheit, growth ceases for the grape vines. As a result, I think it might be nice to provide some comparisons, at the end of the growing season, of two of the varietals that I am growing at the apartment in Chicago. My Mars Seedless won't be featured in this bulletin, partly because it is recovering from the roots being hammered by rat baits placed about by the landlord, which I have no protest for or against. But let's begin with the photographic comparisons, the emphasis will be on the leaves of the two varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon and Syrah. Cabernet Sauvignon starts it off.

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Cabernet Sauvignon grape vine leaves. (All photos taken on Tues Sept 28 2010)

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Syrah grape vine leaves

Syrah grape leaf Tuesday Sept 28 2010

Lead shoot on Syrah grape vine Tues Sept 28 2010

Another view of a Syrah grape leaf Tues Sept 28 2010

The temperature is currently at 69 degrees Fahrenheit in the city of Chicago. The vines and the rest of the fauna are experiencing at least a 23 degree discrepancy between mid-day temps and late-night/early morning temperatures. Actually, the vine by the red stairs seems to be behind the vine along the side of the apartment with respect to how advanced the periderm is developed as the march toward winter carries on. I am very interested in seeing what the impact of my decision to not crop the vine at 5ft tall will be. As well, I am very interested in learning about the prospect of winter injury to the vines and to see if I can possibly get some viable cuttings from these vines. They won't be this long in length by late Marc 2011. I fully intend to prune these back so that I can begin to develop canes that will provide for the cruciform component most readily seen in anyone else's grape vines.

One final note for today. I feel even more certain that August 15 in Chicago, Illinois is probably the best marker to use as the final time to get any young vines in the ground and expect them to be fully acclimated to the soil before the autumn chill arrives.

Overall, I am learning a tremendous amount, and feeling very proud about progress with all of the vines planted in Chicago, Grayslake, southern Indiana, St. Louis, MO and Glen Ellyn, Illinois, with many, many thanks to friends and family, roommates, and building-mates. More to come....Thanks for reading.