Vineyard Pests!!!! - er,...this is where it gets good -

Doing alot of updating on the vines in St. Louis, Missouri. Things are great. Went for a journey into the city with a good buddy of mine, noted plenty of re-development all throughout south St. Louis (not by 'Peppers' south-side bar on Gravois). I only mean south of Olive Blvd and areas southwest of that region, east of the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Anyway, I tried to look again for the pesky Japanese Beetle. Instead I discovered an infestation by what appear to be a kind of Aphid. I have photos to accompany this posting.

The first photograph really sets the stage. I had seen this yesterday when I visited the vine for the first time since March 2010. The first photo displays the end result of what I think is the product of what the bugs in the following photos achieve after dining on a 7 course meal on the grape vine with their friends, families, and the one dude they drank beers with the night before, who also just happened to crash on the couch: he's the kind of person you can't shake with a clean conscience, once you learn more about how far he is gone.  And, as with most short-term acquaintances, there is a certain charm to any human that thinks and acts in a strange, unusual way.  He doesn't do too well at any of the eateries along Division Street just east of Damen Avenue and west of Damen Avenue where all of the copies congregate, talking shapes, sizes, measurements......that's a tangent entirely unrelated to grape vines.




These bugs resemble the size of Aphids. I didn't spy any ladybugs around to counter with an attack. Actually, I kind of expected to see this kind of situation on my Fava Beans in Chicago, IL, not on the grape vine in St. Louis. Either way, this is a good experience. The jury is still out for this household. Surely there is one option of spraying Sevin dust on the vine from Ortho. I just don't want to go there if I can avoid doing so. We took the steps of cutting out as much of the vine that had the infestation as possible (all of which was actually outside of the bird netting, strangely enough and/or convenient, too). By doing this, I actually expect the existing grape clusters to receive greater nutrition from what used to go to the vines that we trimmed. In trimming we were able to fill up a 5-gallon bucket of cuttings. I also lopped a nearly 28 inch long green cutting. Just amazing things have happened to this vine in the past four months. Remarkable.

Either way, Chicago has about 45 heat days left before September 1 2010. For St. Louis, I would wager that they have about 55-60 actual heat days left in their growing season. I might be way off the mark in my estimation here. No matter, when I consider my outdoor vines in Chicago, both of which are Syrah vines that were planted in the soil around Sept 1 2009, and in consideration of how much they have grown in the past 3 weeks, I think I will have a nice sampling as the autumn weather begins to encroach and visit itself upon the Upper Midwest around Chicagoland.

Part of my excitement is that the Syrah vines that are now green will begin to undergo the process of becoming wood-like (I would imagine I'll learn what this process will be called properly when school begins).  As I indicated in the previous two posts, the wood on the Cabernet Sauvignon vine in St. Louis is beautiful and reveals weathering and maturing.

This took me by surprise

Plenty of entries here in the past 48 hours, but all for good reason. The story goes that I have in my office at work a Cabernet Sauvignon cutting that I put into a pot, nearly 9 weeks ago. I have been patient with it, provided water, it is situated in a lovely window sill (that is, the sunlight directs itself onto this pot for a good many afternoon hours). About two weeks ago, an former co-worker stopped by to visit and catch up, he also is an amateur local gardener. I asked him what he thought of the potted cutting and he reported that the buds still looked viable. I have been worried because everything I have planted this year is up against the success of my attempts to grow Syrah cuttings in pots during the spring of 2009, which render astonishing successes. I took Tom's words, his assessment and tried to feel encouraged.

Every once in a while I look at the pot and tell it, "It's okay to grow, Mr. Vine. You need to grow.". Seriously. I did talk to this cutting, just to be silly, in recent weeks. It is probably more hokey and strange more than anything. During my morning rounds, today, of reviewing the plant and putting my finger on the soil to test for estimated moisture levels, I seemed to notice a much larger bud at the base of the cutting than I had remembered from recent weeks. Upon looking closer, there is a greenish hue to the bud. Apparently the fuzzy texture has been pushed away by the green leaves that are coming from within and now there is only one layer of plant material that separates the leaves from protruding outward and being fully exposed to the elements of air, water, heat, and environment, directly. Excellent news.

Today it is warm and I think the plant will respond to the heat. I may well have a photo of bud break within the next 6 days. Until then, here is a photo of what I see today (Thursday May 13, 2010). Again, there is a 30 to 40-year Master Plan that is providing a larger scope. This could well be one of the foundational vines for Conejo Loco Vineyards

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!

May 3 2010 update from the Garden

Spring 2010 in the City of Chicago. Amidst all of the crime and murder lies a vibrant city where all manner of life still thrives and grows and prospers. More updates on the one small, tiny sector of living plants, that I understand to be our garden, tucked away in a corner of Southeast Logan Square.


I think the Honey Bees, the Bumble Bees, and the Butterflies will be pleased with the return of the Joe Pye Weed. I am, too!


Mars Seedless Grape vine


Another sense of how well the returning plants are doing. Asters on the right, Switch Grass in the center, and Astilbe on the left. There are a couple of clusters of the all-green Hosta variety, pretty scientific name, eh? Those Hostas are going to be thinned out really soon. I can't stand how encroaching they are with the other plants.



Second-year Russian Sage coming back after the winter. Beautiful flowers they are. This a 1AM photograph from May 3 2010.


This provides a nice profile of the Syrah Grape vine and its development, laterally. I am a proud parent. This could well be 'the' plant that launches the vineyard in years to come.



Joe Pye Weed.


The Big Bluestem native grass. Lots of growth in just a week. Right behind the grass is a wandering shoot of Willamette Hops.


These are the Willamette Hops vines. This photo is great because the leaves truly pop out. The leaves are enormous, enormous, enormous.


These Willamette Hops vines in the backyard. The photos were taken around 1AM at night after playing a show. But, sometimes a person does what they have to get the photographic update.


This is my only surviving Syrah Grape Vine. Here's to hoping for good things this summer! I just hope this can get established and develop some good hardy vines and a solid root system.


A horrible photo capturing the growth of the Switch Grass as it begins to reach for the sky. I am glad to see this coming around because another patch of Red Fountain Grass didn't make it through the winter. I have been pretty upset about the attrition percentages that I am noticing as Spring 2010 unfolds and it is clearer what is coming back and what is not.

******************News Flash********************

On Friday May 7, 2010 I purchased 5 new vine cuttings. I purchased from Double A Vineyards out of Fredonia, NY. I went ahead and picked up 3 cuttings of LeCrescent and (2) Frontenac. Both are varietals developed by the University of Minnesota specifically crafted to be cold-hardy. In doing some research, I discovered that both varietals have come out of a winter, with a registered low of -33 Fahrenheit, and still produced abundantly the following growing season. Sue Rak from Double A Vineyards was exceptional with any questions, etc. Originally I wanted to go for Sauvignon Blanc and Gewurztraminer cuttings, but she cautioned against it. Later, with a bit of research, I discovered that there is an article from the University of Illinois' Extension referencing the Double A Vineyards' website in the footnotes of the PDF article, I think it was an article regarding Seyval Blanc grapes.