Lately I have been thinking more about the concept of invasives. On one level this work is concretely about clearing an area of Carpenter's Woods from the invasive pants of Japanese Knotweed and English Ivy. The paper trees will stand and disintegrate in the cleared area and, in the spring, we will try to return the balance of that area to native plants, especially oak trees.

After accompanying my husband home from a medical appointment yesterday, I made the leap of understanding cancer as an invasive on the cellular level. Some invasives you can learn to live with. Others not so much. Despite excellent care my husband's "invasive" may be gaining ground, much to our dismay. However, in our small neighborhood park, GROVE will attempt to see if we can find a way to keep up with the invasive plants by replacing them with native species and tending them carefully. In our park we are learning what plants we can live with and what plants we need to replace. In the weeks and months to come we will continue to try and discourage the growth of my husband's invasive as well. Unfortunately as all gardeners know, some plants can be discouraged from returning and others are impossible to beat back.