tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post5832692924593137572..comments2024-03-27T16:38:59.108-05:00Comments on clay and limestone: Wildflower Wednesday: Smilax bona-noxGailhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comBlogger29125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-81963528065841546062016-03-04T11:31:46.461-06:002016-03-04T11:31:46.461-06:00We used that vine, when we were kids, to fence oth...We used that vine, when we were kids, to fence other kids out of our secret forts in the woods - our version of barbed wire. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-50007526556079677372016-03-04T11:30:50.387-06:002016-03-04T11:30:50.387-06:00We used that vine, when I was a kid, to keep other...We used that vine, when I was a kid, to keep other kids out of our secret forts in the woods - it was our version of barbed wire. ;-)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-56031920433980498182016-02-27T19:05:29.876-06:002016-02-27T19:05:29.876-06:00We call this one catbriar because of its claws. On...We call this one catbriar because of its claws. On purpose I grow Smilax smallii, which is very evergreen, thornless, and well-behaved. There is a beautiful old town in NC called Edenton, where S. smallii is a traditional Christmas green. Leshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18281256160705697856noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-6882839331862849582016-02-26T07:47:32.570-06:002016-02-26T07:47:32.570-06:00Indeed, NY is way too cold for Smilax. :)Indeed, NY is way too cold for Smilax. :)Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-21473142724027280992016-02-25T21:19:14.566-06:002016-02-25T21:19:14.566-06:00Now there's one plant I'm glad my garden i...Now there's one plant I'm glad my garden is too cold for!Kathyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11106962533729909868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-33909240189693474472016-02-25T10:58:49.198-06:002016-02-25T10:58:49.198-06:00I totally get that... I've been smacked by cli...I totally get that... I've been smacked by climbing roses, this feels much the same.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-22352597533856776162016-02-25T10:19:31.378-06:002016-02-25T10:19:31.378-06:00Those thorns look really wicked. I have some thorn...Those thorns look really wicked. I have some thorny roses, but I don't think I am willing to move to the next level of thorniness.CommonWeederhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17704682182459794221noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-32264042845917651092016-02-25T08:39:55.633-06:002016-02-25T08:39:55.633-06:00It is very interesting. I do love the leaves, but ...It is very interesting. I do love the leaves, but those thorns are wicked. I like to manage it and let it be in the less peopled part of my garden.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-8547749779326606902016-02-25T08:38:27.846-06:002016-02-25T08:38:27.846-06:00Me, too, Tina, I would love to see birds nesting i...Me, too, Tina, I would love to see birds nesting in a thicket.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-43883459449482863812016-02-25T08:37:47.967-06:002016-02-25T08:37:47.967-06:00Catbrier is another good name for it.Catbrier is another good name for it.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-11441579686994221972016-02-25T08:36:47.072-06:002016-02-25T08:36:47.072-06:00I think that's a perfect compromise for a wild...I think that's a perfect compromise for a wildlife valuable plant that might be dangerous to people.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-38546223780787608802016-02-25T08:35:56.763-06:002016-02-25T08:35:56.763-06:00I admit I love the heart shaped leaves, but those ...I admit I love the heart shaped leaves, but those thorny vines are terrible if you run into them.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-65190694074687568902016-02-25T08:35:05.303-06:002016-02-25T08:35:05.303-06:00I hope the puppies haven't encountered it Jane...I hope the puppies haven't encountered it Janet!Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-14320158970209778622016-02-25T08:34:36.714-06:002016-02-25T08:34:36.714-06:00I have had to prune them to the ground when they c...I have had to prune them to the ground when they come up in the middle of a planting. I can't dig out a ten year old tree to remove it so I prune frequently. Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-37123374992210443132016-02-25T08:33:31.791-06:002016-02-25T08:33:31.791-06:00Brute is a great moniker for this plant! I totally...Brute is a great moniker for this plant! I totally get why someone wouldn't want it in their garden.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-25539927221307965682016-02-25T08:32:25.688-06:002016-02-25T08:32:25.688-06:00Some plants have good looks and are dangerous! Kin...Some plants have good looks and are dangerous! Kind of like all those spiky, thorny plants that many of my friends like to add to their gardens.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-76994504500579150192016-02-25T07:09:30.452-06:002016-02-25T07:09:30.452-06:00There are several different Smilax species and we ...There are several different Smilax species and we have several in Middle Tennessee, saw greenbrier is the one that always shows up in my garden. I don't think it's in danger of being extirpated anywhere! LOLGailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-23763988900842168622016-02-25T07:06:49.968-06:002016-02-25T07:06:49.968-06:00I have heard that, too, Magpi, also, that the tube...I have heard that, too, Magpi, also, that the tubers are edible. We have a wild rose that's very thorny that I would train on an arch, but, not saw greenbier. I will let it go in my wayback backyard. Thank you for stopping by.Gailhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16194325535496408116noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-25958517144896163072016-02-25T06:13:04.832-06:002016-02-25T06:13:04.832-06:00The difference between smilax and roses is aggress...The difference between smilax and roses is aggressive spreading....I can't imagine deliberately training one! I have fought smilax in four gardens and two zones for twenty years. It gets dug aggressively near the house, though the acreage beyond the yard is too big for such attention while I'm still working. <br /><br />I have heard that the tender shoots are edible...anybody tried treating them like asparagus?magpihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16106150045407509313noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-15012634798054534482016-02-24T23:56:26.338-06:002016-02-24T23:56:26.338-06:00This greenbriar doesn't get as big as the othe...This greenbriar doesn't get as big as the other greenbriar species that grows here (or I think there's a second species? - has rounder leaves) but I always chop it down when I see it. That said, there's always plenty of it because I could never ever get around to chopping 1/10th of it around here. LOLsweetbayhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06248743114944736346noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-53778384195328358512016-02-24T12:51:18.682-06:002016-02-24T12:51:18.682-06:00I've seen this pop up in my garden beds. Hard ...I've seen this pop up in my garden beds. Hard (and sometimes painful) to try to pull or dig, as you pointed out.<br /><br />However, per Ms. Wasowski, I don't think I'd mind having it in an out-of-the-way corner, if I had some woods on the property. It does have good wildlife value, after all.<br /><br />Perhaps this plant will get more love if we use its other common name - catbrier? :)<br />(http://www.carolinanature.com/trees/smbn.html)Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07402416428574401646noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-50506388659469930002016-02-24T11:58:30.742-06:002016-02-24T11:58:30.742-06:00I have not seen this plant but it looks so interes...I have not seen this plant but it looks so interesting. Any native plant that is good for wildlife, I can't fault. Donna@Gardens Eye Viewhttp://gardenseyeview.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-30107102710439176592016-02-24T11:07:30.254-06:002016-02-24T11:07:30.254-06:00Oh gosh we are inundated with it in our forest. We...Oh gosh we are inundated with it in our forest. We cut 30 foot masses of it out of the hardwood trees by our pond. For the most part we live with it but really try to avoid it when walking the forest. Hubby keeps asking its purpose and of course we have the berries and understand its value to wildlife. I allow it to remain in some areas like by my front gate to deter people and animals. In the garden it HAS to go. I will dig it out. Roundup does not work on it as far as we can tell. I asked my forester its purpose and like everything about managing the forest he had the same answer: it's part of the forest and you simply have to manage it. Good thing as it will always be here. Informative post Gail. Love it. I hope to see some catbirds this year. tinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17415302577518111227noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-10043435725880372592016-02-24T10:28:16.506-06:002016-02-24T10:28:16.506-06:00I've heard of this one, but I don't think ...I've heard of this one, but I don't think I've seen it much--maybe during travels but off the path, so I didn't notice it. To answer your question, yes, I believe it has a place. I would probably deal with it in a similar way--retain it in an area of my property where people and pets don't go. Thanks for hosting Wildflower Wednesday, Gail.Beth at PlantPostingshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10473637655960119672noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3093185160483906357.post-68185277705477171742016-02-24T09:58:21.050-06:002016-02-24T09:58:21.050-06:00It definitely lives out here. I cut it back in sev...It definitely lives out here. I cut it back in several places. We always just called it that thorny vine. I can see where wildlife could find shelter in it.~~DeeAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com