August 2007 Newsletter

1. Kudzu’s seasons: We saw our first kudzu blossoms on July 23 – ten days later than last year’s first sighting. The good news is that kudzu’s most rapid growth phase has ended in our part of the world. Henry Edwards showed us some interesting 1934 government info which provides info about that growth. We think you will find Lou Adam’s chart of kudzu’s growth by month quite interesting. Click on   http://kokudzu.com/KudzuKalendar.html  and scroll to the bottom to see this newly posted old information.

2. Kudzu season shift: The literature well describes kudzu’s flowering at this time of year. Spartanburg’s Dr. Gill Newberry noted last year that there is a bad news aspect of the shift in kudzu’s life cycle. From the standpoint of control, a more important life cycle shift is that the nodes which are in contact with the ground are now putting out roots. This is a really good time to roll back the new vines before they root.

3. 501(c)3 status: Through the excellent help of Bill Strickland, we have received the IRS notification that gifts to the Kudzu Coalition are now tax deductible. We very much appreciate the continued financial and moral support of the Spartanburg Men’s Garden Club.

4. Spartanburg Youth Corps: 18 high school students worked during the summer for the City of Spartanburg under this program. The Coalition worked six days with the 2007 team. Click on http://kokudzu.com/Collins_Barksdale.html and scroll down to get a feel for this fine group.

5. Traveling Kudzu SWAT team: We have a small group of dedicated kudzu commandos who travel around the upstate to help public organizations with their kudzu infestations provided that they are willing to help themselves. We worked with Mary Morrison’s Forest Service Youth Conservation Corps Team from Union at Rose Hill State Historic Park. In late July we also delivered the kudzu a blow at Musgrove Mill State Historic Park near Clinton, SC.  http://www.kokudzu.com/MusgroveMill.html

6. 100% kill: The most satisfying part of our work is eradication. When this is achieved, we can hang our “100% KILL” sign at the site. The last two weeks have been our best ever. Take a look at the last photo on each of these sites: Brentwood Drive http://kokudzu.com/BrentwoodDr.html, the Children’s Advocacy Center http://kokudzu.com/ChildAdvCtr.html, another in the Converse Heights neighborhood http://kokudzu.com/OtisPalmetto.html, and the Children’s Shelter http://kokudzu.com/SpartChildrenShelter.html  How sweet it is!

7. Weapons of mass destruction: Paul David Blakeley is working with Mr. Roddy Jeffers of Pressley Machine Works to put specially designed wider forks onto his skid loader. Machinery design modification is new for us. Hopefully this will eliminate the problem of vines wrapping around the skid loader wheels and will increase the swath that the skid loader makes through the kudzu patch.

8. Identification of plants found in and around kudzu: Dr. Gill Newberry has developed a new guide for botanical identification of vines, shrubs, and trees that we frequently see in the kudzu patch. We think you will like it. http://www.kokudzu.com/PlantID.html

9. SC-EPPC statewide kudzu control team activity: Under Matt Nespeca’s leadership, this team launched a multi-year test of chemical and non-chemical treatments in Spartanburg. Charles Kemp of Marshfield Forest Service in Orangeburg donated his time, travel, and expertise to this sizeable endeavor. Click on http://kokudzu.com/BeaconDriveIn.html for the details.

10. Kudzu Kollege: Sign up for the August 25 course in Spartanburg by calling (864) 582-0990.

11. National Environment Education & Training Foundation award: At 3 PM on Wednesday afternoon, September 19, a representative from NEETF will present the Coalition an award behind the Y. Please join us. This is in connection with National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 29.

Thank you for your continuing interest and support.                         The Kudzu Coalition