Kudzu

Coker, Alabama

Weather: low 68 degrees, high 91 degrees, mostly clear skies

After my morning walk, we had some more errands to do at the RV. I continued working on cleaning the outside, and Carolyn replaced the caulking behind the bathroom sink. We didn't go out to Terri's house until almost 1500 hours. Once we got there, I did some weed eating and Carolyn did a couple of small tasks inside. Weed eating is not normally that bad a job, but the heat and humidity seemed to make it particularly difficult today. I was wearing protective eye wear because of stuff flying up in my face, and the sweat pouring into my eyes really made it difficult to see. The yard is getting in better shape, so each time I clean it up, it seems to take less time and effort.

If we ever have a nuclear war, the only two things that will survive will be cock roaches and kudzu. For those readers who don't know what kudzu is, here's a little science lesson.

Kudzu is native to Japan and China, and it grows well in the Southeastern United States. Kudzu is a vine that when left uncontrolled will eventually grow over almost any fixed object in its proximity including other vegetation. Over a period of several years, Kudzu will kill trees by blocking the sunlight and for this and other reasons many would like to find ways to get rid of it. The flowers which bloom in late summer have a pleasant fragrance and the shapes and forms created by kudzu vines growing over trees and bushes can be pleasing to the eye during the summer months.

The following statement appeared in an agricultural bulletin in 1928, about 20 years after it was first introduced in Florida as a forage crop. "Kudzu is not without disadvantages. It is slow and expensive in getting established, is exacting in requiring only moderate grazing and mowing, is deceptive about its real yield, especially to those who do not know it well, and sometimes becomes a pest."

In the south, the first frost will turn kudzu into dead leaves and soon after just gray vines. The kudzu vine will continue growing the next summer almost from where it was stopped by cold weather the previous year. No one seems to care much or even pay much attention to it. Maybe that is because we accept it since there isn't much we can do about it except temporarily kill it with herbicide or let livestock graze on it when it gets to be too much of a problem.

Here's some pictures of kudzu.

The reason I brought up the topic of kudzu is because I have to work on controlling it on Terri's property. Each time I mow and weed eat, I pay attention to where the pest is trying to spring up. Since I last mowed about eight days ago, some of the vines have grown about a foot a day. Think about that. If you stand still, it will overtake you.

More later, be safe.

Today's Town - Tacoma, Washington: The City Of Destiny

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