Look up – it's a bird! It's a plane! No, it's Crossvine! This beautiful vine is often found high in tree tops; so as you walk, look up and you may be rewarded. It is hardy and may climb as high as 50 feet. It has been seen in the trees near the Squincy Bird Cabin. The vine has “claws” at the end of its tendrils (modified leaves), allowing it to clasp tree limbs, fences, etc. without any support. Native Americans once used it as a remedy for various illnesses.
Crossvine is from the same family as Trumpet Vine (Trumpet Creeper.) There are still some blooming on the fence on the upper road at Reflection Riding. Both Crossvine and Trumpet Vine are attractive to butterflies and hummingbirds and produce small seed pods when finished blooming.
Another flowering vine which most everyone is familiar with is the Morning Glory. Although there are over 1000 species of these flowering plants, and they occur in many colors, many white ones bloom along the Creek Road at this time. Their common name comes from the fact that they open in the morning and sometimes begin to fade and curl up by the end of the day.
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