Category Archives: Smilax

Smilax root 2026-08-05

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Re-opening the old woods road after Hurricane Helene, many Smilax roots turned up.

[Gretchen with a big Smilax root]
Gretchen with a big Smilax root

There are about six Georgia species of Smilax, known variously as Catbrier, Greenbrier, Saw Greenbrier, Lanceleaf Greenbrier, Roundleaf Greenbrier, etc. You can see a theme: viny briers.

Underground they have extensive roots, including these large nodules. I don’t know which species this one is.

You can prepare Smilax roots as a starchy food, as native Americans did. That’s a lot of work. Continue reading →

Vines 2023-01-16

Maybe I should have trimmed some more vines before backing in there.

[Vines and privet]
Vines and privet

I had sawed off that privet. It was supposed to push to the side when I backed the tractor with mower in.

Instead, the grapevines and Smilax decided that invasive exotic Chinese privet would go up on top of the tractor canopy.

Probably I would have noticed earlier, but I was concentrating on not backing into a tree and not getting caught around the throat by catbriars. You know those Smilax with the stout sharp thorns and thick stems: Smilax bona-nox.

Note to self: next time take a machete. Cutting each vine with clippers took a while.

-jsq

Phoenix bird 2020-05-10

The firebird appears to be a Carolina wren.

[Carolina wren]
Carolina wren

This Thryothorus ludovicianus didn’t seem to mind that I was three feet from it. Continue reading →