Monday, April 2, 2012

Twisted Nature Notes!

Look what my dad and I spotted while walking along the bike trail in Loveland, Ohio.
He thought it was corkscrew willow and I thought it was grape vine. And, now upon further investigation we both think that it is oriental bittersweet. What do YOU think? I am linking up to Nature Notes over at Rambling Woods.

34 comments:

  1. There are so many possibilities that I'm not sure what it is but these are very interesting nature shots.

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    1. Thanks! We noticed these crazy vines and thought you guys would enjoy seeing them :)

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  2. Gee..I have never seen anything like that..wow..It is very interesting looking. I wonder if it hurts the tree it is encircling..I guess I have to go look that one up...Thank you for sharing this Libby...Michelle

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    1. Apparently, it is an invasive. We are still learning about it...

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  3. Great find and cool photos. It is almost snakelike. Thanks for sharing your nature scenes.

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    1. The one on the fallen tree really looked like a snake even in person. Thanks for stopping by!!

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  4. That vine looks very healthy! When it leafs out you'll be able to identify it, but it may very well ne oriental bittersweet.

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    1. That's funny, that's what my dad kept saying, "We need leaves!"

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  5. I think nature is playing sculptor.

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  6. Interesting vine.

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    1. We thought it looked like rope in places.

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  7. You have a great eye for spotting unusual things. It makes for great photography.

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    1. Thanks - these really caught my eye, for sure!

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  8. it's beautiful
    and I see a peek of blue flowers in one of the shots
    wonderful!!

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    1. I was wondering whether anyone would notice those! There were clumps of blue flowers all over the woods :)

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  9. wow, great photos, Nature always amazes me.

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    1. Thanks! Appreciate you stopping by and commenting :)

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  10. Great shots of the tree, lovely textures and tones. Entwined....

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  11. Omg those trees are so cool! so weird and different looking lol... really nice picture though..

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    1. Thanks! I really appreciate you looking at the post and commenting! :)

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  12. Replies
    1. Yea, I had to use the word "twisted" in my headline to get everyone's attention - LOL!

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  13. Fascinating! I love finding things like this in nature. The blue flowers are pretty. I have a friend who lives in Loveland, OH. It's a pretty place.

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    1. That's amazing you know someone here - its not a big place. Small world!!

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  14. It's really neat -- reminds me a bit of the strangler fig trees that we have around here.

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    1. Oh, yea, I've seen those strangler figs; these do look at bit like those :)

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    2. Your twisted pictures show 'Oriental Bittersweet'
      or Oriental Staff Vine (Celastrus orbiculatus).
      It is a woody vine native to East Asia of the Celastraceae family. It is also commonly called Oriental Bittersweet, Japanese Bittersweet or Asiatic Bittersweet. Considered to be an invasive species in eastern North America. It closely resembles the native North American species, Celastrus scandens, with which it will readily hybridize.

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    3. So, it IS an oriental bittersweet? We got it right :) Thank you SO much for positively identifying these for us. We have been looking at them and speculating and pulling up pictures on the internet for weeks - LOL!

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  15. I'm going with bittersweet. We have them where I live. That one is impressive!

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    1. Thanks Kateri! I think you are right about the bittersweet. :)

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  16. God shots - I do not know that vine - I don't think we have them overhere - it looks quite old in the way that ithas entwined with the r trees around it - interesting shots - do you know what the blue flowers are called - thanks for sharing

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