Border Invasion


I’d seen the invasion, but decided it didn’t matter. My forest manager set me straight. If left unchecked, the invading plant would eventually cover the entire forest floor and climb every tree. 


It had already killed the natural plant habitat, and as the manager said, the wildlife would soon suffer.


This invasion had occurred along the border with my next-door neighbor—an older couple who’d retired to this place a couple decades ago.


When they couldn’t keep their barking dachshunds on their property, Mr. K constructed a hog wire fence the full length of the property line.


Then they had created a well-landscaped yard and had subsequently planted yellow archangel—the invasive beast.


I never went to his fence line, not wanting to set-off the barking dogs. So, I was unaware of how much the yellow archangel had spread. It had moved comfortably through the fence onto our acreage—in a huge blanket. 




I’m not the best neighbor, because I tend to keep to myself and not be very social, but that would soon change.


I was now on my hands and knees right across from their home.


Of course their little dogs barked furiously at me as I pulled up every root and tendril of the invading plant.


Then, Mr. K approached, gently scolding his barking entourage. 


He seemed lonely, and decided to stay and talk. I learned about his recent infection—from a prolonged cancer treatment. He was tired and grabbed a chair so he could sit and tell me more.


He shared about a high school football injury that had led to lifelong issues with his nose.


He talked about family, living in the woods, the eagles overhead, and dogs that sometimes bark too much. 


I kept pulling and filling my bags. The next day I was just a little bit further along the fence line. Mr. K came back too. “If we’d known this stupid plant would take over, we’d never have planted it.” He knelt down on his side and started pulling it up. 


“I’ve had my gardener pulling it up for years and I can’t get rid of it.” He lamented.


Soon, he was out of breath. I felt sorry for him. Lung cancer sucks the breath right out of you.


I’m going to need months to pull up all the plants on our side of the fence. But perhaps God knew what it would take for me to become a kinder, friendlier neighbor. 





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