Kudzu

Before I lived in Florida, the only context in which I had heard of kudzu was as the name of a comic strip. Now I know it is a horrible vine; it gets its little claws in something and takes it over -- along with anything else nearby. Today I cut back at least six months of it from my side fence and yard, along with something I'm told is called Virginia Creeper. In another part of the yard, I tore out some night-blooming jasmine, a deceptively sweet-smelling flower -- until it overwhelms the yard and the scent becomes sickening. It's incredibly hard to get rid of. When cut, it "bleeds" white sap that's nearly impossible to get off tools, skin, and hair. Also, just when it seems to finally be gone, it returns with a vengeance. I call it "bitch vine", and I do my best to keep it out of my yard. My neighbors think it is delightful, and theirs has crawled all over my crepe myrtles. Yuck.

Today I did more yard work than I have in the past six months. The weather is incredibly pleasant -- our coolest day since early spring, I think -- and just perfect for outdoor work. Because I've torn down vines and picked up limbs I had missed right after the hurricane (as opposed to cutting and trimming the lawn) the difference isn't especially noticeable, but I'm glad to have gotten it done and to have spent some time in the sunshine. (My recent yearly bloodwork came back good, except that I have low potassium and low vitamin D. How can anyone who lives in Florida be lacking in vitamin D?) I think I get plenty of sun in my daily running around, but it's nicer to get it while doing fun, productive activities.

In addition to cutting back the vines on the side and back yards, I showed my dedication to improving my curb appeal by braving Walmart on a Saturday morning to buy some inexpensive plants -- pansies and mums -- to put in my front garden. The next few days are supposed to be equally cool and clear, so I'm looking forward to spending more time outdoors. Doing manual labor in the sunshine is good for the mind and soul.