Happy Vines

  Sometimes, it seems as if we do things in vain.  Our hard work accomplished nothing...nothing at all.  Earlier this spring (and summer), I was on a mission to get the place looking better.  My year off due to health issues really dealt a blow to the Little Bayou House and the yard.  It was high time to get that ship back in shape! So, I was working like a whirlwind...until that big blow came and knocked me off my feet again.  Health is one of those funny things that can pop one way or another at a second's notice.  My work came to a grinding halt until the malady worked its way to oblivion.  After an entire month of nothingness, I am finally beginning to return to my old self.  Work is, once again, getting accomplished.

  Back in June, I had trimmed back a good bit of the smilax vines that take over the hillside if given their way.  Once you let them get away with that inch, they take the proverbial mile overnight.  So, I trimmed.  With things neatly done, I moved on with the satisfaction that the chore would be much easier from that point onward.  Then, that break came into play and the vines bounced back with a vengeance!  Smilax usually blooms early spring and then produces the berries that ripen late fall.  Thinking I did a smart thing by trimming off the blooms, I was hopeful that not nearly as many berries (seeds) would be produced.  Duh...I think trimming the vines just made them bloom more!  Today's walk made me realize that if I wanted the prolific growing vines to remain contained, I was going to have to trim them constantly.  It did not happen.  Vines everywhere.  Vines in bloom again.  Vines happy.  Me...not so much.