Today was my last Thursday before my return to the classroom to remove invasives from the Botany Trail at Flanders.  I had blissful peace and quiet and solitude while I cut my way through the border of the trail to create a space to deposit the toxic debris of invasives.  Before I got to the location where I worked, I studied other places where we have been.  Of course, I noted the return of multiflora rose and Japanese barberry.  There were also tender versions of oriental bittersweet poking through the soil.

Nevertheless, there was open space for the understory to breath and grow in the light of a cool summer morning as we reap the benefits of Hurricane Erin making her way along the eastern seaboard.  The amount of spicebush and maple seedlings ready to absorbed the light and air and nutrients is as staggering as it is encouraging.

The work is not done and likely will never be done. What matters is that there are people ready and willing to show up and care for their planet where they stand.  It's all we can do.