Parthenocissus quinquefolia

Virginia Leaper

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In my garden beds, I generally consider Virginia creeper—Parthenocissus quinquefolia—to be a nuisance. The seeds, “planted” by passing birds that eat and excrete the fall berries, germinate readily in inaccessible places like the base of the privet hedge that bounds three sides of the front yard. Disguised by the privet leaves, the fast-sprouting creeper vines … Read more

Opportunists

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Opportunist plants lurk in every garden, even those well maintained oases of perfection that routinely knock visitors’ socks off.  Some of those opportunists we tag as “weeds”, but others are perfectly respectable plants whose only sin is seeing the main chance and taking it.  In fall, some of the most prominent of these plants make … Read more