California doesn’t have a lot of native vines. Only a couple. California Honeysuckle is not like the some of the exotic honeysuckles that can scale a chain link fence in a season. It’s a nice rambling groundcover or can be trained to grow up a support. I have seven of them along my back fence with a trellis behind each one. As soon as they reach the top of the fence I’ll string wire from trellis to trellis to encourage it to grow up and across, giving us a little bit more privacy. California honeysuckle is happiest with its roots in the shade and the top of the plant in the sun. A little water and it grows fast. Not much water and it still grows. Hummingbirds love these flowers.
Once again, not really much brainstorming went on. I was just trying to get a draft of a poem together because, well, it’s late and I’m tired and I know I can revise these under less pressure. 🙂 It’s not quite right but it captures the direction I want to go.
California Honeysuckle
roots hide in shade, cool
vining fingers search for sun
hummingbirds rejoice
@copyright Susan Taylor Brown
April 18, 2009
It’s purple! How cool – ’round here honeysuckle is pale, pale yellow.
Yep. I love this vine.
I like that “cool vining fingers.”
Thanks!
Anything with hummingbirds gets my yes vote.
Yes, I’m a big hummingbird fan too. I hope to get some to nest in our yard someday…once the plants are grown.