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Blackgum Tree Winter Buds - February 2026

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Back last Spring, I planted a very small caliper Blackgum (or Black Tupelo) tree in our parkway in a spot that I had previously planted a London Planetree (Exclamation) that didn't make it.  This native tree was on my 'get to know list' for a while because it isn't *that* common to see, it puts on a great 'fall show' and is shaped right for a parkway tree.  We have a large, mature Norway Maple in our parkway that has begun to decline and will inevitably either suffer some weather damage and crack or die due to root damage/impact from construction.  My plan has been to plant a small caliper tree in the parkway - sort-of *next to* the existing Norway Maple and let it grow up in the canopy of the larger tree. After time, the smaller tree will have a chance to show-off when the larger tree goes away. The problem with the first tree in this spot (London Planetree) was that I didn't do a good-enough job paying attention to it with water.  These small trees need t...
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Macho Man Randy Savage Downers Grove Monument Progress Update - Sculptor Named - February 2026

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There has been a ton of positive momentum on the Macho Man Randy Savage Monument front in the past few weeks.  I posted a video update back in late January when the movement went in front of the Village of Downers Grove Council to discuss their public art program and how our Macho Man statue would be a perfect fit together.   For those just catching up, I'm part of a group of neighborhood guys who are advocating that the Village of Downers Grove put up a statue to Randy Poffo , Downers Grove North High School Class of 1971 and a global icon & humanitarian who proudly called our Downers Grove community home.  Here's a look at Randy Poffo's DGN Athletics Hall of Fame plaque: As for the progress, the Macho Monument Movement was back in front of the Village of Downers Grove Village Council to talk (even more) about their public art program this past week.  At that meeting, our leader presented to the Council an outline of our approach and introduced the sculpto...
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Location: Downers Grove, IL, USA
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Winter Dieback on Juniper Groundcover - February 2026

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I have a couple of small juniper groundcover plants in the backyard.  They were planted years ago as 'bonsai nursery stock' that I transitioned to just going into the ground in the same spots they were stored.  I'm pretty sure this is a Youngstown Juniper that went in back in 2019 .  It has since grown up and out, but this year appears to have suffered a bit of dieback.  I didn't see this earlier, so am guessing it might be winter-weather related.   The photo below shows the front third of the juniper has gone brown and appears to be dead: Before Spring comes, I'll get out there and prune off the dead limbs and hopefully stimulate a little bit more growth to fill in the (now) bare spots in this groundcover. 
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Location: Downers Grove, IL, USA
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Oak Tree Marcescence In Winter - February 2026

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The large Northern Red Oak tree in our backyard (tree swing tree) has mostly dropped its leaves this Winter, but there is a small bit of foliar marcescence going on closer to the trunk on the lower, newer limbs.  Below is a look at the canopy of this mighty oak where you can see the brown, dried leaves only on the central, lower section of the tree this Winter: Over the years, this tree has dropped its leaves at different times, but this year was an 'early' year.  But, that was (I think) driven by an early Snow, so there's tons of these hard-to-break-down oak leaves scattered around our backyard that are still buried under the snow.  They'll wait for Spring clean-up and mulching by my mower.  
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Location: Downers Grove, IL, USA
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Chellino Scamorza Cheese Price - February 2026

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Over the years I've documented the price of Chellino Scamorza Cheese - which...you know by now...is the best low-moisture pizza cheese.  The last time I posted a price was at the end of 2022 and the price was out-of-control with a ball going for $12.53 from Pete's .  A year earlier, December of 2021 the price at Angelo Caputo's was at $6.99 .  Which means it almost doubled in 2022.  WOWOWOW.  Here it was for $7.99 in November 2021 .  It had been hanging around the $5.99 to $7.99 price range for as long as I've been buying it.  So that $12.53 jump at Pete's was a big increase.  #CheeseInflation. This weekend I found myself at Tony's Fresh Market in Countryside where they were selling Chellino Scamorza Cheese for $10.07.  $8.99 per pound.  $2.99 per pound drop from the peak of 2022.   Here's the list (and links) of the price tracking of this Chellino Scamorza Cheese over the years: February 2026:  $10.07 December 2022:...
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Location: 6704 Joliet Rd, Countryside, IL 60525, USA
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Weeping Norway Spruce - Buds on Tips In Winter - February 2026

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Planted in the Fall of 2023, a pair of (still) small Weeping Norway Spruce trees are standing in the long, narrow (and hard-to-grow) IB2DWs bed that runs between our driveway and our neighbor to the north.  They were the first successful conifers that I have grown from small trees and I attribute that Fall Planting to their success.   They've had two full growing seasons (2024 and 2025) and over those two years, they've both put on some new growth at the top (growing taller) and the limbs have gone a little bit longer (and weeping, curving or 'pendulat'ing').     The first Spring, they put out this tiny red/pink cones .  A nice treat.  And, they've also taught me something about how conifers grow.  Like decidious trees, they 'set buds'.  But, the buds are different.  They're these little brown clusters that appear at the tips of the existing limbs and branches.  They're signs of where the upcoming season's growth is going to c...
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Location: Downers Grove, IL, USA
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Some New (To Me) Oven Enclosure Finishing Inspiration - February 2026

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The good folks at Forno Bravo sent out their monthly email newsletter this week and it included a look at customer's oven that they bill as being straight out of 'Fantasy land'.  And, I immediately glom'd-on to the images and video about the oven and have begun to pour over the details.  Here's a link to the newsletter (web link ) and below is a screenshot of one of the images in the newsletter that shows off the oven.  This is one of their off-the-shelf ovens that is wrapped in an enclosure.  That enclosure is faced with stone (veneer, I'm guessing) with a cedar (or cedar-inspired roof). This is not my photo.  Source via Forno Bravo's video .  Here below is  their YouTube video that accompanies the story about this oven that shows off even more details: A few things of note: 1.  The wood storage has a door.  Split in the middle and matching the roof trim.   Love that.   Here, below is a slightly better look at the oven w...
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