Gardener's Journal

Day two of clearing out the winter brush. My hands are full of spliters, rough from the dry leaves and gnarly roots.

I have filled up two garbage pails of twigs, brush, leaves and "sludge" from ponds and overbrush. Under the brown crunch, there is the emergence of the stella o dora's, the red twig dogwood upright and sure amidst the brown haze of last year's winter.

Clean soil. Clean ponds. Clean, new spring. Like grace, full of promise and hope.