This man-made area is a holding pond for storm water run-off from the surrounding parking lots and building roofs. It is hard to even see the bottom of the pond since nature has overtaken the area. The only time to see the bottom is in the winter. Nature has overtaken it all once again. You don’t have to go into the vines themselves to get this cache. It is a quick park and grab. There is somewhat of a slight slope where the critter house is located. You will have to locate the nearest critter house, unlock the front door and sign the log. Unlocking the door will require finding the two “keys” that are 8d common “keys.” This may require a bit of finesse with a skinny tool on the “keys” to help them out of the key hole. If you have no clue what 8d common “keys” are you can look on the internet and search “8d common” or go to the local building store and find out what they look like or read the hint. If you happen to drop a “key” and can not locate it there are several extra “keys” inside the house. Sign the log sheet and “lock” it back up. Please don’t leave any candy or food of any kind inside the house.
Kudzu or Japanese Arrowroot, Genus Pueraria of the pea family, is spread all over the area at ground zero. I moved from the north a few years back and noticed this pervasive vine as soon as we hit the south land. Many states have classified it as a noxious weed due to its invasiveness. It is a very tough vine, climbing trees, poles, buildings and any objects that are lying near it. It most assuredly kills every living plant that succumbs to its presence by cutting out the sunlight and stopping the photosynthesis process that plants need to stay alive. The off-shoots of the main root can grow as much as a foot a day on a good rainy summer. I measured a vine at my work that I chopped off and it grew back 19 feet long in 21 days. The same main vines completely closed off the one rear exit door and crept in under the door into the building. I found the root crown way down in the woods that was about a foot in diameter and paced off the vines from that plant 600 feet and more in each direction from the main root. Each off-shoot puts down its own roots as it grows. The vines at my work that surrounded half the building took 3 men two days to clean out only half of the vines that were on the property. They used a special backhoe, hatchets and chain saws. The rest of the vine continues to grow in the woods beside the property. It still tries to invade the property to this day. We have to mow and cut it back every week during the summer.
Kudzu vines are very strong and are used in basket making in Asian areas. The plant can also be used as a grazing area for farm animals like goats, llamas and cattle. According to some web sites parts of it can be eaten. I would not recommend that without checking it out thoroughly. The foliage does provide natural cover for birds, snakes, frogs, bee hives, turtles, spiders and many other animals and insects. The plant does add nitrogen back into the soil, if you can ever get to the soil again after it starts growing. Good luck with that.
The plant is not native to any part of the North American continent. It was brought to the United States by the US Government for the Centennial Exposition in Pennsylvania in 1876. It was thought to be good for erosion control and was planted for ground cover. It now covers over 7 million acres in south eastern US.
I hope you enjoy this cache and the surrounding nature area. Have fun caching!
CONGRATULATIONS TO PALDSS for first to find!