Last year I had a vision. Too bad this year that vision has turned into a whole lot of work.
I had plans to turn one corner of my large yard into a hummingbird/butterfly garden. So, while at a plant nursery sale I bought two butterfly bushes and two Trumpet Vines. I had already put up a 16' cattle panel to be the back border of that full sun garden area. I would plant the two Trumpet Vines in front of it, weaving the vines in and out of the panel. That part of the plan worked. The vines are extremely healthy and need little care. A little over one year later you can't tell it is a $20 cattle panel that supports them.
What didn't work is the part where I had convinced myself I could contain these vines. I knew they could/would grow 20 to 30 feet long, and had wanted them to so I could double them back and cover the panel making it look a hedge. They have done that. But, that is not all they are covering. It has become a daily chore, seriously daily, making sure that the tendrils aren't after the butterfly bushes I planted in front of them. I have to weave the tendrils that are reaching for the house, machine shed and cedar tree back into the main vines. My husband threatens to get the chainsaw out at least once a week.
If I was smart I would pull, tug and shovel those vines out of my yard today. But, when the 3 to 5 inch, orange/red blooms covered the plants last fall several hummingbirds visited my yard. This summer the trumpet shaped blooms are again flowering in abundance drawing a pair of ruby-throated hummingbirds to them daily. I will leave the Trumpet Vines where they are and deal with them so I can enjoy the birds, bees and butterflies that are drawn to them. I have to admit I am not so crazy about the ants that want to cover these vines. But, on the other hand I have had several birds show up to feast on the ants.
The crazy, fast growingTrumpet Vines (Campsis radicans), also known as Trumpet Creeper,may have been a mistake to put in my yard, but there they will stay. I like the orange/red flowers against the green foliage. I enjoy watching my winged visitors. And, for now I have convinced myself I can keep the vines from taking over while getting some much needed outdoor exercise. I wouldn't recommend buying Trumpet Vine seeds or plants though. There are just as colorful, less tedious, ways to attract hummingbirds.
Grows up to 20 to 30 feet Early in life it produces brilliant scarlet and orange trumpets Frost hardy perennial Proper name is Campsis RadicansMore at Amazon Marketplace
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