Finding Contentment

Not grapes!

Here's two of the chickens in front a Bradford Pear that we planted about four years ago. It was just a twig really, about a foot long and skinnier (is that a word?) than a pencil. See how it has grown!

Now to what is growing on back fence:  If only it were grape vines! But no, one of the plants growing there is poison something (posion ivy, I think). I know this because although poison ivy or poison oak has never affected me, it does affect my husband and boys occasionally. My husband gets a case of it whenever he mows or weedeats down there!

The other thing growing is the most dominant, and is probably what everyone is mistaking for grape vines. It is kudzu, also known as "the scourge of the south." It grows EVERYWHERE around here. And once you plant it, you can't get rid of it. We have never planted it, but this fence is actually my neighbors (our properties back up to each other). Yes, they actually planted the stuff! Even though they planted in their yard, it constantly creeps over into ours. Mark has to weedeat it all the time! It doesn't even has anything else to grow on, it just creeps across the lawn until it reaches something 20 feet away. If left unchecked it covers the chicken coop, the young trees and will keep going into the house.

In our area, the city comes along every few weeks and sprays the kudzu on the side of the roads. I'm not one for spraying poison but if they don't do it, the kudzu covers the electric poles, etc. and creates a hazard.

If it wasn't so invasive, it could be a nice vine. Too bad it's not grapes!