
We’re used to English Ivy, that beautiful and enthusiastically invasive European import, as a solid mass of dark green leaves.

But it is a flowering plant, of course, and therefore it has flowers. After many years, when it has reached a certain height and maturity, it will send forth a multitude of stalks bearing clusters of clusters of little green flowers with a heady scent, something like linden-flower tea, that attracts insects of all sorts to pollinate them. Curiously the flowering stems bear leaves that no longer grow in the familiar lobed ivy shape; instead they are unlobed, rather diamond-shaped, or like an aspen leaf, and larger than the leaves on the rest of the vine.



One response to “English Ivy in Bloom”
I’m the owner of 1325 West North Ave in Manchester, the Pettit home. Thank you for the great photos. I found them by accident while googling “Joedda Sampson, 5th Ave Pittsburgh” and looked at “Images”. My house showed up – interesting but no idea how I am linked to her. Anyway, thanks for the post! And yes, if you have a decorative frieze scrollwork at the top of your house why not gild it? LOL.