June 19

Bindweed is growing quickly now and is particularly noticeable in the yard periphery, snaking its way outward toward the light from within any bush or tree that gives it purchase. It seems to grow inches per day reaching and twisting itself vine-like taking over in its zeal to expand.

More interesting is to watch its progress where it grows in the ditches or roadsides, away from any would-be supports. Here, the plant will grow upright, rising several feet in the air on its sinewy vine, all the while searching for the chance encounter with an innocent branch or fence so that it can begin its climb in earnest. Look carefully here to spot a grouping of isolated bindweeds, where several have clung to one another braid like to make a stalk that reaches ever higher. It is ingenious.

Virginia Creeper, which is a bindweed, is close to flowering now. Cousin to the Morning Glory, its buds are fat near the old stack of logs in the side yard, where it has steadfastly climbed a young cherry tree nearby and now rests its bulbs on the top of the pile. Tomorrow perhaps they will open to display the deeply fluted white flowers, and I will be hesitant to keep up my vigorous battle to cut and pull this invader from our yard.

Pulling is rather temporary, of course. The orange colored roots are long and hardy, and inevitably two things will occur. One, you will break a root at some point underground as you lift and pull. Two, you will certainly fall on your backside, landing hard and covered with loose soil you’ve dislodged. The first results in new growth soon thereafter. The second results in wounded pride.