Roots

This week, I pulled out all the ivy below the bay window at the front of our house. These mighty plants - likely planted before the first Trudeau was Prime Minister - have become increasingly unruly, and I decided this year, it's time for them to join the municipal compost heap. The area in question is 20 square feet at best (the dirt area around the air conditioner in the photo), and I pulled out ELEVEN mature plants . . . 

my house, sans ivy

. . . I think that's more ivy than what graces the ancient walls of most English castles.
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And here's the giant root of a kale plant I finally pulled out of the ground this week after seeing what it would do if I just left it in the ground for two years. Last year, it grew like a champ after surviving a pretty rough winter. The leaves were a little more bitter than they were in its first season of growth. This week, I saw some new shoots of growth. But now it's time for this workhorse kale plant to rest under a blanket of lettuce leaves, banana peels and coffee filters.