"The Red Vine of Death"

  It is my habit to start the day with a leisurely hike to the pier then about the property.  This gives me time to reflect on life, in general, and then make mental notes of chores to be done during the rest of the day.  The stroll takes me all the way from the Bay, around the marsh edge, back to the creek and then to the west side of the place.  Once there, a full circle (of sorts) has been made and that mental notepad is full of ideas.  It is also my habit to take the camera along "just in case" something interesting is found.  There is always tons of stuff so many photographs are taken.

  This morning while I was back behind the canebrake, a blotch of brilliant red caught my eye.  It was about a foot off the ground making me think that I had found some small plant with a red bloom.  Well, the red bloom was correct but this was NOT a small plant.  This was the bloom of a Trumpet Creeper Vine!  The vine can get up to forty or more feet and will take over trees if it is left to wander.  What I found odd was that the vine was, indeed, far up in a tree but had sent down one lone tendril to bring me the beauty of its bloom.  That "tendril" was about ten feet long with nothing but the bloom and bud at the very end.

  It sort of felt like the vine was hurt that I not photographed its blooms in the top of the small oak tree so it sent one down for me.  Of course, the camera was brought into play and the image was captured in all its glory.   I am one of those weird people who loves these blooms and the vine, itself, even though it is a nuisance.  While the blooms are a favorite of bees and hummingbirds, the Trumpet Creeper can literally take over.  If left to its own accord, it can strangle trees to death.  Yep, this one will have to be cut back, if not removed.  Perhaps a small root can be potted and relocated near one of the arbors.  That way, both the plant and I can be happy!