Stop Being So Aggressive!

  Sometimes things are just irritating.  Besides rubbing you the wrong way, they can be downright aggressive.  Weird thing is here, I am talking about a plant.  Aggressive plants do not belong in my garden!  Nope, they are not attacking me...they are attacking everything else in their way.  These things are not invasive as they are native to the eastern part of the country but they aggressive to the point that they are taking over the place.  It all goes back to that "Give it an inch and it will take a mile."  Trumpet Vines are like that.  Let one root, one seed, one tiny speck of a plant get established and they are virtually impossible to eliminate.  I need to do more eliminating....right after these things finish blooming.

  Therein lies the problem.  The blooms are gorgeous and the butterflies and hummingbirds love them.  Since I adore all three...blooms, butterflies and birds, I have a serious problem yanking these things out from the ground.  I love seeing the bright red, tubular blossoms dangling from the vines.  I do not like seeing them dangle from my fruit trees, house, blackberry vines and shed.  The vines can do major damage to other plants since they wrap around and choke it.  Tiny roots extend from the woody part of the vine well away from the rootball.  These root tendrils attach themselves and do severe structural damage to woodwork on buildings.  The underground roots can buckle concrete and pavement.  Plus, the vines can be a skin irritant to some folks.  (At least, I am fortunate in that part since I am the one to wield the ax to chop the vines.)

  Come October, the blooms will fade and I shall be chopping once again.  In a year's time, the vines have taken over the entire back portion of the yard.  This is where the fruit trees and berry vines are planted so seeing the red Trumpet Vine blooms was not something I really wanted to see while out on my hike.   Seeing the hummingbirds fight over the nectar at least eased the frustration.  I have a huge job ahead of me next month!

Another One Bites The Dust

  Being tired of the endless snipping and clipping of the wisteria vines, I cropped them back nearly to the ground.  The arbors stand bare and I am hoping they stay that way.  As matter of fact, if I have my way, the arbors are the next thing to go to the wayside.  Instead of the constant repair required, I shall enjoy a bit of freedom!  The wisterias will be allowed to grow a bit longer if I can train them to tree form and not rampant growing vines.  If they refuse to be constrained a bit, then...chop, chop and out they go!

  Now, another vine has bit the dust.  Red trumpet vines had taken over the kumquat trees and had even crawled all the way to the top of an oak tree.  It was time to put a halt to these as well.  The snips came into play again and the vines were cut to the ground.  The roots will have to be watched so these do not send up new shoots but perhaps if they are caught early enough, I can keep them under control.

  Red trumpet vines are lovely (just like wisteria) but left unfettered, they can become invasive.  These things can swallow up whole buildings if given the chance!  The red or orange blooms make it hard to eliminate the plants.  Hummingbirds love these things and anyone who does a bit of birdwatching, would have a hard time killing the vines merely because of that attraction.  The plants can grow from seeds, cuttings, layering, by runners or just about any other method available.  The seed pods are about six inches in length and have a number of seeds.  Imagine a vine some forty feet long with tons of branches.  Those branches are full of blooms.  Each bloom produces a seed pod filled with fifty to a hundred seeds.  When the seed pods dry, thousands of seeds go airborne and become scattered about the area.  Out of those thousands, most will take root and produce new vines.  The vines are cold hardy, drought hardy and not many critters even bother eating them.  If things are not held in check, the red trumpet vine can soon choke out any other plant life.  (Think the dreaded kudzu here.  This vine's life story is not unlike the horror tales connected to kudzu.)

  While that is all said and done, I will miss the trumpet vine.  The clusters of red tube-like flowers bring a bit of brightness to the otherwise drab woods.  Even the blooms that drop to the ground remain bright red for days.  It saddens me to make short work of things of beauty but this beauty can become a beast if allowed.  SO...snip, snip, chop, chop!  The vines received a good trimming.

Red Alert!

  Out back on a dead citrus tree, I noticed some beautiful red flowers.  A Trumpet Vine had taken root and was completely covering the unsightly tree.  You might think this is an easy fix for such an eyesore since the blooms are lovely and even the vine is quite nice in appearance. But...but with beauty sometimes comes trouble.  This, my friends, can be considered a warning...a red alert, so to speak!  The Trumpet Vine can cause problems.  Take caution when working near these beauties!

  Some folks and some pets can be allergic to the vine.  The foliage can cause redness and swelling in both humans and animals. Personally, I have not had the problem as of yet but that can change at the drop of a hat.  Tomorrow may see me red and puffy from trying to cut out the vine. Yes, I do plan on removing this bit of loveliness. If I leave the vine, it will eventually, not only cover everything in the near vicinity, it will also deposit thousands of seeds.  These seeds will make haste in taking root and flourishing.  The ever expanding growth of vines might just take over the Little Bayou House!  While I admit that a vine covered cottage is adorable, a rash-causing vine covered cottage may be problematic!

  This is not to say that the Trumpet Vine cannot successfully be added to the garden but rather that it requires steady tending.  Several times a year, the vine needs to be brutally chopped back almost to the ground. Any "runners" that are on the ground must be removed.  After each blooming, all seed pods must be picked (careful of those leaves!) and burned.  Each six inch long pod contains thousands of paper-thin seeds that will scatter high and low with the least bit of breeze!  Don't get me wrong.  I will keep one vine and keep it well trimmed.  I do not need the work involved in having dozens of Trumpet Vines!  Aside from all of those warnings....isn't it gorgeous?!

Magnolia Pods

Magnolia Grandiflora. Southern Magnolia just about screams Deep South as much as Live Oaks draped in Spanish Moss, wide front porches and sweet tea. These wonderful, big old trees with their massive blooms have always extended a welcoming as much as "Come on up on the front porch and sit a spell". The Deep South would not be the same without this wonderful tree. The scent of its blooms wafting on the bay breeze is one of the most amazing experiences. Not many people can pass by this tree in bloom and not stop to sniff..sniff again..pull down a branch and sniff..oh man, that is awesome! If only we could duplicate that scent..many have tried but it is never exact. Today though, it is not about the blooms nor the aroma, I viewed another beauty of this tree. This time of year the seed pods are turning bright red and seem to stand out like beacons against the glossy green leaves. The pod looks like some sort of cone but is actually the fruit of the Magnolia tree. The almost velvety covering makes it look like it would be soft but it is hard to the touch. In late September, the pod will burst open to reveal the even brighter red seeds. Once that happens, it will be just a matter of days before the seeds disappear..the squirrels and birds will feast. But for the moment, the tree is again beautiful..once covered in white dinner-plate sized blooms it is now sporting fiery red pods!

It seems that all the plants are getting dressed up for Fall! Near the Magnolia Tree I spotted a Trumpet Vine happily covering an old tree stump. Its orange and yellow blossoms fairly glowed in the late afternoon sun. Contrary to the belief of some this is not Poison Ivy nor is it Poison Oak. True (as with any plant), there are those that are allergic to it but this vine is really not the villain that is made out to be. Just using common sense ( gloves) will protect you from any rash that might occur. I have never had a problem personally and I wrestle with the plant constantly trying to keep it in check. It is quite the vigorous grower and will cover anything if given the opportunity. I happen to like the vine not only because of the colorful blooms but because the hummingbirds love it and in the winter, the song birds love to eat the seeds from the long pods.