With summer in full swing, many plants are at their peak bloom and climbing plants, like clematis, morning glories, and sweet peas, are especially remarkable.

By Richard Nunnally, Richmond Times-Dispatch, Va. May 26--Q. The English ivy on our terrace took a terrible hit this winter. The leaves appear tan or bleached out. The vines themselves seem to be alive but have been very slow to produce new leaves. Is this winter kill or disease? A.

By Matthew Artz UNION CITY -- Along stretches of the Alameda Creek Trail, it's becoming hard to see the trees through the suffocating vines of English ivy.

By Jim Balow balow@wvgazette.com Hedera helix, better known as English ivy, has long been considered an attractive ground cover. Brought here from Europe centuries ago, it put the ivy in the Ivy League.