Glycine

Surprisingly, if you look up Wisteria online on my computer, what I find is a reference in the French language to the plant called "Glycine" in French.  It is spelled just like we spell the organic compound.  I was hoping to see if there was a connection in the two words but didn't find one.  


So lets make this just a photo posting of last weeks glories when the blossoms of the Wisteria prevailed in my neighborhood. 

The plant above took hold in this wall about ten years ago, from a seed brought over from the opposite wall.  It didn't start blooming until about 4 years ago but now look at it. 

  I have watched it grow each year until it now covers the entire pergola erected by the adjacent neighbor on the right of the photo.  

 Wisteria is a hardy, determined vine.

I love seeing it cascading down over fences and buildings but I don't dare plant it myself.   It is one of the strongest plants I know of.   I have seen the stems bend solid metal fences and lay havoc to weaker walls and plaster.  It can grow 10 feet in a season.  

 It is in fact difficult to hurt this rampantly growing, unrestrained , often invasive plant.  

But the neighbors don't seem to let that bother them and so for two weeks of the year, my street is transformed by its hanging violet plumes.