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Thursday, March 21, 2013

Kudzu

Spring is here and in the South that means one thing:  The Kudzu is ready to bloom.



For those of you not familiar, here is a brief history of Kudzu.

Kudzu is a vine from Asia.  In the late 1800s it was introduced to the Southeast United states as both a way to control erosion and as a cheap food supply for cattle.  When farmers begin to plant Kudzu they did not know what they were in store for.  When Kudzu was hit by the hot Southern sun it grew in a way it never did in Asia.  The Southern sun was to Kudzu what radiation was to Godzilla.  The Kudzu grew at an insane rate quickly growing out of control and growing faster then farmers could maintain.  To add insult to injury, its super growth also made it harder and undesirable for cattle to eat. 


Kudzu is said to be able to grow over a foot a day.  It has earned the name "The Vine that Ate the South".  It covers and kills everything in its path.

Forests.....


 

Homes.....


And vehicles.....


Over the course of the summer grows faster, thicker and deathlier.......However, once winter hits it undergoes a transition from lush green.....


To a brown carpet of death......


Take a look......




There is a car under there.......


Over the Course of a year I took a series of photos of the same garbage truck to show the evolution of Kudzu over the seasons.










As you can see from some of the above pictures, Kudzu often forms interesting shapes depending on what it covers.  This has led to another trend:  Kudzu Jesus.

Here are three reported occurrences of Kudzu Jesus (All found in NC).  These are not my photos

NOT MY PHOTO

NOT MY PHOTO

NOT MY PHOTO

Its kind of a Mountain version of the Tortilla Jesus.

Y'all have a nice spring, but remember, the Kudzu is coming............


The Carpetbagger

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