Vines can be found almost anywhere in nature. Along the ground, growing vertical or crawling horizontally, vines in the landscape are easy to discover. There is a vine for all kinds of purposes.
Some vines are perennial and others are annuals. The annual vines tend to grow quickly to fill a space or to conceal a structure. Annual vines seem to grow overnight and can sometimes drop seed. Depending on the climate and zone they can become an unwanted guest.
Power can be found in vines of all types. Vines have the power to lift our spirits. By wrapping and weaving along the branches and up the trunks of trees, vines make a statement.
There are times in our lives when assessing the value of vines becomes crucial. On a Champion Tree walk a few Saturday’s ago, we were shown how much damage can be done from vines.
There are times when the identification of invasive vines can be a matter of life or death. There are two common vines in the local landscape. Honeysuckle blooms evoke memories of their sweet nectar. A treat I enjoyed as I collected blooms from the fence line on my way to school. The fragrance wafting through the air encouraged me to find the source.
Trumpet vine is quite beautiful but can become an unwanted guest in any landscape.
Semi- shade, full sun, shrub, fence or wall – Trumpet Vine can be quite the task to remove. Allowed to climb into the canopy of tall trees, Trumpet Vine can choke out and eventually totally consumed anything it grows on.
I had the opportunity to consider the vines that can be found in our lives. Peering into the tree canopies, behind shrubs, and along the woods line, I saw thick vines that had been growing for quite a while. Looking inside my perennial beds, there were some vines only there for this season. This made me think about the vines in our lives. It is easy to allow people we encounter and invite into our lives to become vines. Vines that are not kept in check can affect our livelihood.
As I paused, I remembered how vines were reused when I lived in Virginia. My daughters were younger and I made a lesson from the results of my foraging for vines. As I collected vines from the woods, I made use of them. I shared with my daughters how to identify a friendy vine and the unfriendly vines. To this day, my daughters are able to identify poison ivy with its vivid red leaves and the hairy appearance. I tugged, unwrapped and collected the vines wrapped in the tree branches. Releasing the tree that had been held hostage all summer by this quick-growing shackle.
As I reminisced about these lessons shared, I started doing what comes naturally. Sitting in the sun, I wrapped and tucked each tendril. As I twisted and turned this vine in my hands, I smiled. Creating a few natural wreaths, to adorn with seasonal decor, a vine (or two) brought joy to my day.
What are the vines in your word that keep you from finding joy in your day? Are they annual (there for a minute) or do they seem to keep recurring like a perennial? Do you find creative ways to reuse these vines as life lessons as you clear them away? Why do you allow vines to weigh you down? Are vines covering your canopy and not allowing you to thrive? How are you creatively choosing ways to de-vine your world?
To find out how to use collected vines, click here
Need information on Trumpet Vine or Trumpet Creeper, click here or Honeysuckle, click here
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