Big Green Monster of the South

Whole fields have been taken other by the green monster.

The bane of the South was introduced to the US in 1876 at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia. As part of the exposition the Japanese government constructed a garden filled with plants indigenous to their country. American gardeners were captivated by kudzu's large leaves and sweet blooms and began using it as a ornamental plant in their own gardens.

It can be used as feed for animals. Medicines may one day be made from it. Its supple vine can be utilized to make baskets. The blossoms can be made into jellies and syrups.

The Soil Conservation Service advocated the use of kudzu for control of soil erosion in the 1930s. During the Depression, jobs were given to hundreds of men to plant the vine. Farmers were offered incentives to plant fields of it in the 1940s.

I saw this sign the other evening when I was on my way to a nearby
grocery store. It's almost completely eaten up.

Unfortunately, the climate of the Southeastern US proved too beneficial for kudzu. During the summer, its vines can grow as much as a foot a day. They climb trees, power poles, cover abandoned structures, anything they come in contact with. Under perfect conditions they can grow as much as 60 feet a year. Whole forests have been choked to death because the kudzu prevents the trees from getting any sunlight. The vines are almost indestructible taking between 4 to 10 years to be completely destroyed by herbicides.

I thought those of you who don't live here in the South might like to know a little more about where I live. As for me, I hate seeing the stuff take over trees and hillsides.