January: Plant event!

Who says January in Chicago has to be lifeless and dreary?


Bowiea volubilis

Every January, the climbing onion puts forth a single new vine, replacing the one from two years ago that just died back. Last year's vine is still green and healthy though I don't think it's increasing in length anymore. I always look forward to the new sprout, feeling the hardness of the bulb and imagining all the lovely sugar those vines have been cranking out for the last year to bring us to this moment. Late summer, the bulb gets soft and squishy and I panic that I've overwatered and it's about to rot away... but come winter, it firms up and you can feel the energy about to burst free.

And there it is!


The plant room on a sunny January morning; many of the plants have been moved to the table because the windows are just too cold right now. Some plants don't mind, others are big babies about it.

January: Night in the city

Last night about 10 pm. It was as light as day, from city lights reflecting off the low ceiling and surface snow, and it was eerie and beautiful. I've become such a city creature; the complete dark of rural areas unnerves me, makes me feel claustrophobic. But I've never seen light like this before.

January: New year, new snow

I'm hibernating, doing lab work, reading a lot, watching TV a lot (it's not my fault... "House" is on something like 8 times a day and I feel compelled to watch them all). We had a foot of snow over the weekend and in between shoveling and shoveling, I had time for a couple of pictures...


Snow hats on Echinacea


Fighting off the urge to lean over and make a face print


Snow hats on Viburnum berries


Foley is unamused and would like to remind me that greyhounds were bred for deserts, thank you very much.