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| BOSTON IVY |
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| VIRGINIA CREEPER CLIMBING ON A LARGE SHRUB |
Wednesday, 11:30 AM. 44 degrees F at the ferry dock, 41 on the back porch. Wind NW, calm with some gusts, the humidity 70% after a trace of rain last night. The sky is mostly cloudy, the barometer 30.07" and rising. It looks like unsettled weather ahead, but fall colors are excellent. The internet has been unreliable, I think due to cable laying on Hwy 13 south of Bayfield.
The Virginia creeper vine photographed is Parthenocissus insertaa, in the Vine Family (Vitaceae), which climbs by tendrils, without adhesive discs. We also have the more southerly and common P. quinquifolia, which has adhesive discs as well as tendrils, here in Bayfield. Otherwise the two species are pretty much indistinguishable. Both species are native to eastern North America.
Virginia Creeper (using that common name for both species) is beautiful in its fall leaf color, and also has attractive dark blue berries. The flowers are rather insignificant in appearance. The vines can be weedy and have to be controlled in most landscapes.
Boston ivy, Parthenocissus tricuspidata, much used in landscaping, is an Asian species. It has leaves with three lobes, Virginia creeper has compound leaves with five leaflets.
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