What I first deemed to be nature's dreadlocks has turned out to be old and woodified ivy. Lol. I am such a beginner. It's literally everywhere and has conquered trees and ruins around this place.
This stuff is incredible, it grows with a darker green than all the rest of the surrounding nature and it has overtaken the majority of trees in this area.
I have learned a great deal about ivy this past week, that it's not a parasite but "merely" uses a tree to help it climb. It creates extra shade and helps protect a tree from harsh weather and bare sun exposure. This becomes especially apparent in the morning hours here ;)
What a godsend in high summer! It can however become really REALLY constricting. This is some of the stocked up firewood, and the owner had cut the log with the dreadlock ivy in one swoop. I mean look at this thing.
Looks like an alien spine of sorts!
I have started collecting woodified ivy as they make great art pieces. There are beings and characters hidden in the structure of it, and I want to use these pieces to decorate the garden once I find the perfect spot. Check this dude out!
I could paint the individual characters among the vines as to make them stand out more. For now I am merely collecting and refining that painting idea...
...and sometimes removing parts of the vine with tender care (and blunt gardening tools!)
This piece is from my first tree adventure a few weeks ago, trying to free the tree from its naggy ivy companion. So this is where modern RPGs got the idea of a vine armor!
It is fair to say ivy has been on my mind. I have started thinking how amazing it would be to live in a structure of trees where ivy is consciously used and directed to weave the walls together. I mean wow.
Among these musings I have started going the scientific route. Ahahaha. Need sober scientific firsthand experience. I figured there is so much ivy, and I read mature ivies can grow a good 9 feet per year! And it tends to grow from all sides on the same tree.
So being the newfound gardener that I am, I am considering using ivy as a regrowing mulch, purposefully cutting it so that its vine will turn to wood and be eventually broken by the tree as a new vine is growing up.
I opted for the experiment and cut a living one down the base of the tree.
firewood Time will tell if that was a good decision or not. If all goes well the connected vines should turn to wood and be broken off by the tree, automatically feeding the carbon to the surrounding area as it degrades on the floor.
The ivy still has other vines growing so I consider this move "pruning" only. Updates will come as time goes on.
God I love the life in the garden.
Wish me luck! ;)