August 22, 2006
Honeysuckle
Japanese honeysuckle [Lonicera japonica] was introduced into the United States as an ornamental vine more than 100 years ago. It smothers native plants in woodlands throughout the eastern United States.
I don’t know when it was introduced into our yard, but the last couple of days, it’s being outtroduced. And by the hardest. The remarkable new views of sunrise and sunset together with some struggling trees getting new leases on life makes it worth all the effort to get shed of the tenacious stuff.
OoNameDropping Department: The great trombone player and blues singer Jack Teagarden was on stage in a Houston pub once when I got to spend an intermission talking with him. He told me this perhaps apocryphal story:
He and Fats Waller and some others were jamming late one night when they ran out of beer money. Waller asked them to wait while he went to get some money. When he came back, he had fifteen dollars. He said he had sold a tune he had written. It was “Honeysuckle Rose.” Thanks to Google’s appreciation for fine music, they’ve come up with the lyrics…
Ev’ry honeybee…. fills with jealousy
When they see you out with me
I don’t blame them….goodness knows
Honeysuckle Rose
When you’re passin’ by….flowers drop and sigh
And I know the reason why
You’re much sweeter….goodness knows
Honeysuckle Rose
Don’t buy sugar….you just have to touch my cup
you’re my sugar….it’s so sweet when you stir it up
When I’m taking sips…from your tasty lips
Seems the honey fairly drips
You’re confection…..goodness knows
Honeysuckle Rose.
[Louis Armstrong recorded “Honeysuckle Rose” with Fats Waller on December 12, 1938, and again with his All Star band in 1955.]