I also noticed that a cardinal was spending a LOT of time on the wire above an area where some of the grapevines are becoming quite “lacy looking”.  I put two and two together and thought it was a good time to republish the lost article on why I’m not concerned about the leaf damage.

Dateline: July 18, 2014*

I am sometimes dismayed by the rapid growth of my Muscadine grapevines (Vitis rotundifolia).  Then I spot a bird picking through them and I relax and am glad that I procrastinated on cutting back. Heck, this southeastern native vine can be cut back at any time.

This past week I watched the cardinals dancing in and out of the back stand of Muscadine grapevines.  I can’t be sure if they were enjoying the fruits or the insects.  The grapes are still pretty green, so it is possible they were feasting on the larvae of the grape flea beetles (Altica sp.), the beetles themselves, or one of the predators of this beetle pest. Ichneumon Wasps and certain ground beetles both battle for the larval stage of Altica spp. to provide food for their young.

I use the grapevines on the one side of the yard as a privacy fence. They grow thick with leaves in the summer affording me complete coverage.  In the winter they lose the leaves, but the vines still provide some coverage and winter interest with their tangle of tendrils.

Muscadine is a dioecious species, meaning you need male and female vines to produce fruit. The vines on the fence between my next door neighbor and me is male, but the one between my rear neighbor and me is female.

The mockingbirds birds love grapevines to build nests.  Unless you actually see the birds hopping in and out, you’d be hard-pressed to find some of the nests they build since they are so well hidden.

Green anoles are another species that play and feast among the twines.  Snakes find cooling refuge and hunting grounds and many other species of birds find cooling nap locations within.

When the grapevines get a bit out of hand, I reach in and snip a vine offshoot close to the ground. This allows dieback and you get a nice cushion of mulch from the dried out leaves when they finally drop.

Since the vines hang on with tendrils, I sometimes just cut and yank them out to turn into wreaths. When the vines are green and pliable it is very easy to create a quick wreath.  The dragging out often strips the green leaves so you don’t have to hand strip them to form the wreath. Killing two birds with one stone, so to speak (DON’T take those words literally!)

The muscadine grapes have an ok flavor, but are seedy, so I mostly leave them for the birds to enjoy.  I’m told they can be turned into wine if you are so inclined.

Grapevines in the garden can be overwhelming at times, but they provide a wealth of food and habitat for our fauna so if you can provide a spot, why not?

This tale was originally published by Loret T. Setters on July 18, 2014 at the defunct national blog beautifulwildlifegarden[dot]com. Click the date to view reader comments.