everywhere in the south you can find kudzu growing and going about its business of covering old houses, roadways and trees. it was brought over from japan to help control erosion, which it does nicely. however, it is hard to get rid of and will grow up to a foot a day in our subtropical climate, reaching out and wrapping its' tendrils around any and everything. if left unattended, it will gradually cover everything in site. here is a kudzu patch right in the neighborhood, taking over all the trees and shrubs in an undeveloped gulch, and creeping onto the porch of a nearby house.
photographs and words by rebecca wood