Creeping from Virginia to Texas, or at least from east Austin to west Austin

I’ve lived most of my 37 years in Austin in the north-central or northeastern part of the city, but in May of 2004 we moved to Great Hills in the northwestern part of town. When fall came I couldn’t help noticing that a limestone slope by the side of Morado Circle was host to Parthenocissus quinquefolia, called Virginia creeper or (in part to distinguish it from poison ivy) five-leaf creeper. The reason I couldn’t help noticing that vine is that its compound leaves are one of the reliable sources of fall color here. Now it’s nine years later, and the same plant is on the same rocks, still putting on its autumnal show, as you see from November 18th of this year.

© 2013 Steven Schwartzman