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Friday, March 5, 2021

Ivy Bis of the Hedera Chronicles

Ivy removal examples | Walls and fences of ivy | It mocks us

Two famous ivy topiaries on Viale delle Mura in Bergamo’s Upper City: the swan and the heart. We begrudgingly admit these are two okay uses of ivy as long as they don’t bear fruit.Two famous ivy topiaries on Viale delle Mura in Bergamo’s Upper City: the swan and the heart. We begrudgingly admit these are two okay uses of ivy as long as they don’t bear fruit.
Two famous ivy topiaries on Viale delle Mura in Bergamo’s Upper City: the swan and the heart. We begrudgingly admit these are two okay uses of ivy as long as they don’t bear fruit.


Our post from August 2020, Thoughts on Ivy in Italy: Problem or Part of the Scenery? showed some egregious examples of ivy overtaking trees and spaces around Bergamo. In that post, we concluded that while we find ivy-gone-crazy an affront, it isn't perceived that way in Italy. Furthermore, we challenged ourselves to find some positive examples of where ivy was used in a "good" way or was useful, while also looking for signs of where it was removed. It was hard but we found some examples in each of these categories However the more we looked the more we saw really bad examples.


Ivy removal examples


Parco Sant'Agostino Ivy Removal from Tree - BeforeParco Sant'Agostino Ivy Removal from Tree - AfterParco Sant'Agostino Ivy Removal from Tree - BeforeParco Sant'Agostino Ivy Removal from Tree - After
We don't only complain about ivy, we remove it when we can like here in Parco Sant'Agostino. I never thought I'd think a pair of garden clippers would be our constant companion when walking.

Parco Sant'Agostino Ivy Removal from TreeIvy Removal from Tree in San VigilioIvy removed from a farmhouse wall in Via Castagneta.Ivy removed from a farmhouse wall in Via Sudorno.
Examples of ivy removal, from left to right, a tree in Parco Sant'Agostino, a tree in San Vigilio, a farmhouse wall in Via Castagneta, and a house wall in Via Sudorno.

On a fence near the stadium a once hardy ivy's remains, intricately woven into a metal fence.On a fence near the stadium a once hardy ivy's remains, intricately woven into a metal fence.
On a fence near the stadium a once hardy ivy's remains, intricately woven into a metal fence.


Walls and fences with ivy, protection

Ivy protection from Pyrrhocoris apteris - firebug.The same metal fence as above but with living ivy. Win some, lose some.The same metal fence as above but with living ivy. Win some, lose some.
Left: One a recent hike we saw these insects that take cover under ivy. Are we harming them when we remove ivy? Can they find other shelter?  Center and right: The same metal fence as above but with living ivy. Win some, lose some.


It mocks us


On a recent lunch at Trattoria Parietti, I found myself face to face with an ivy espresso cup. Gulp.An ivy plant spouts from a wall on Lo Scorlazzone - a hill climb to San Vigilio.Ivy infestation along Via Costantino Beltrami.
Left: On a recent lunch at Trattoria Parietti, I found myself face to face with an ivy espresso cup. Gulp. Center: An ivy plant spouts from a wall on Lo Scorlazzone - a hill climb to San Vigilio. Right: Ivy infestation along Via Costantino Beltrami.

When ivy is ugly, it's really ugly like this "trimmed" ivy on Via Fontanabrolo.When ivy is ugly, it's really ugly like this "trimmed" ivy on Via Fontanabrolo.
When ivy is ugly, it's really ugly like this "trimmed" ivy on Via Fontanabrolo. To the owners of this property: It's coming back.

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