Sunday, November 2, 2014

Kudzu or Arrowroot

Carpe Diem #597 Kudzu (or Arrowroot)

Here in Kentucky, Kudzu is an evasive plant.  As a child, seeing it over trees and signs always made me feel as if I was exploring ancient ruins deep in a jungle.  I also remember playing in the woods and the matted vines were kind of like a trampoline - only no high bouncing.  In Japanese and Chinese culture, kudzu is revered as one of the seven sacred flowers of fall.  So I thought I would look for a positive use for kudzu in my area and came across recipes for jelly made from kudzu flowers.

Here are my attempts with kudzu (None with a sacred feeling)

eating sandwiches
atop boulder in woods
kudzu encroaches

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boundless sea of green
landscape overcome
kudzu gone rampant



abandoned building
scene mimics mayan ruins
kudzu vines in fall

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grape scented blossoms
ocean of purple and green
kudzu jelly time



14 comments:

  1. Oh Im not familiar with the plant but have seen things overrun like that and they do give that ancient look :)

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  2. My friend who moved to Florida talks about people absolutely despising the stuff -- !
    Reminds me a bit of the grapevine that covers spots in rural Peeay -- except ours is much S-L-O-W-E-R than kudzu!
    Really does look like abandoned Mayan ruins ....

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    1. My father once said not to stand too still or the Kudzu would cover us up.

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  3. Great page - sincerely. I am really learning about this kidzu, and you wrote an interesting paragraph there, bringing in personal memory.
    The first haiku was wonderful - and the 'Mayan' one - Enjoyed all of them!
    By the way we have a haibun challenge, with different kinds of prompts every week http://hamishgunn.booklikes.com/post/1035833/ligo-haibun-challenge-word-prompt-week

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    1. Thanks for the nice comments. I'll have to look into the haibun challenge. I've never written haibun before.Thanks.

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  4. Really? Is there such a thing as kudzu jelly? Wow! I never knew that!

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  5. Replies
    1. Yes, I like the look although it is awfully destructive.

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  6. Very interesting, I'm learning so much about the great kudzu invasion of America!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks - It still is so wonderfully mysterious to look at ..... well before it kills the vegetation.

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